and verbs--there was a class of roots denoting simply relations in space, that is, place or direction (here or this, there or that, up, down, away, &c.). It is easy to see how the audible marks of such notions, at first, doubtless, vague enough, would be rendered precise and intelligible by gesticulations; or perhaps the gesticulations were the original signs, and the words mere involuntary exclamations accompanying them, and in time taking their place. These syllables have been called local, demonstrative, or pronominal roots, and play a most important part in language. They are joined to other roots to form derivatives of various kinds; and it is of them that the inflexional endings of nouns and verbs are built up. Singly or in combination, they constitute the pronouns, personal as well as demonstrative. Abstract as are now the meanings of _I_, _he_, they were once patent to the senses; _ma_ was an emphatic "here," calling attention to the speaker; _sa_ or _ta_, "there, that," something different from both speaker and hearer. Most of the prepositions originated in roots of this class. The roots of some of them, at least, are identical with those of pronouns; others express direction, and thus imply motion. Thus _up_ means, "(motion) from below to above;" in the root FR (as in _for_, _from_), which is represented in Sans. Gr. and Lat. by PR (pro), the ground idea is, motion or removal from the speaker, in the front direction. _Of_ is the Gothic _af_, Old Ger. _aba_ or _apa_, Sans. _apa_, Gr. [Greek: a)po\] {211} Lat. _a_ or _ab_. It is not easy to determine the precise physical relation primarily expressed by this particle; probably "proceeding from," or "descending or depending from." If there is any connection between _of_ and _have_, it is more likely that _have_ is derived from _of_ than the reverse. That not a few verbs have this kind of origin, is now recognised; the English _utter_ from _out_ is a signal example. The primary relations expressed by prepositions were always physical or sensible; but the transition to the abstruse mental relations which they now serve to mark (cause instrumentality, superiority, &c.) is, as a rule, sufficiently obvious. For example, "issuing or proceeding from" passes insensibly into "being part of," "belonging to," "in the possession of."--_F._] {212} SECTION VIII. CONJUNCTIONS. The Conjunctions are distinguished from the Prepositions, by connecting Predications; while the Prepositions connect only Words.