By the latter, I
assert, positively, that "I would not wilfully hurt a fly:" whereas,
by the former, I merely _wish you to believe_ that "I would not
wilfully hurt a fly;" but I do not _affirm_, that as a fact.
_That_ being the past part, of _thean_, to get, take, assume, by
rendering it as a _participle_, instead of an adjective, we should
come nearer to its primitive character. Thus, "I would not wilfully
hurt a fly. I wish you to believe the _assumed [fact_ or
_statement_;] or, the fact _assumed_ or _taken_."
_If_, (formerly written _gif, give, gin_,) as previously stated, is
the imperative of the Anglo-Saxon verb _gifan_, to give. In
imitation of Horne Tooke, some of our modern philosophical writers
are inclined to teach pupils to render it as a verb. Thus, "I will
go, _if_ he will accompany me:"--"He will accompany me.
_Grant_--_give_ that [fact] I will go." For the purpose of
ascertaining the _primitive_ meaning of this word, I have no
objection to such a resolution; but, by it, do we get the exact
meaning and force of _if_ as it is applied in our modern, refined
state of the language? I _trow_ not.
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