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NOTES.
Оглавление1. The same noun is sometimes masculine and feminine, and sometimes masculine or feminine. The noun parents is of the masculine and feminine gender. The nouns parent, associate, neighbor, servant, friend, child, bird, fish, &c. if doubtful, are of the masculine or feminine gender.
2. Some nouns naturally neuter, are, when used figuratively, or personified, converted into the masculine or feminine gender. Those nouns are generally rendered masculine, which are conspicuous for the attributes of imparting or communicating, and which are by nature strong and efficacious; as, the sun, time, death, sleep, winter, &c. Those, again, are generally feminine, which are conspicuous for the attributes of containing or bringing forth, or which are very beautiful, mild, or amiable; as, the earth, moon, church, boat, vessel, city, country, nature, ship, soul, fortune, virtue, hope, spring, peace, &c. This principle for designating the sex of a personified object, which is quite rational, is generally adhered to in the English language; but, in some instances, the poet applies the sex according to his fancy.
The masculine and feminine genders are distinguished in three ways:
1. By different words; as,
| Masculine. | Feminine. |
| Bachelor | maid |
| Boar | sow |
| Boy | girl |
| Brother | sister |
| Buck | doe |
| Bull | cow |
| Cock | hen |
| Dog | bitch |
| Drake | duck |
| Earl | countess |
| Father | mother |
| Friar | nun |
| Gander | goose |
| Hart | roe |
| Horse | mare |
| Husband | wife |
| King | queen |
| Lad | lass |
| Lord | lady |
| Man | woman |
| Master | mistress |
| Milter | spawner |
| Nephew | niece |
| Ram | ewe |
| Singer | songstress or singer |
| Sloven | slut |
| Son | daughter |
| Stag | hind |
| Uncle | aunt |
| Wizard | witch |
| Sir | madam |
2. By a difference in termination; as,
| Actor | actress |
| Administrator | administratrix |
| Adulterer | adulteress |
| Ambassador | ambassadress |
| Arbiter | arbitress |
| Auditor | auditress |
| Author | authoress |
| Baron | baroness |
| Benefactor | benefactress |
| Bridegroom | bride |
| Canon | canoness |
| Caterer | cateress |
| Chanter | chantress |
| Conductor | conductress |
| Count | countess |
| Czar | czarina |
| Deacon | deaconess |
| Detracter | detractress |
| Director | directress |
| Duke | dutchess |
| Elector | electress |
| Embassador | embassadress |
| Emperor | emperess |
| Enchanter | enchantress |
| Executor | executrix |
| Fornicator | fornicatress |
| God | goddess |
| Governor | governess |
| Heir | heiress |
| Hero | heroine |
| Host | hostess |
| Hunter | huntress |
| Inheritor | inheritress or inheritrix |
| Instructor | instructress |
| Jew | Jewess |
| Lion | lioness |
| Marquis | marchioness |
| Mayor | mayoress |
| Patron | patroness |
| Peer | peeress |
| Poet | poetess |
| Priest | priestess |
| Prince | princess |
| Prior | prioress |
| Prophet | prophetess |
| Proprietor | proprietress |
| Protector | protectress |
| Shepherd | shepherdess |
| Songster | songstress |
| Sorcerer | sorceress |
| Suiter | suitress |
| Sultan | sultaness or sultana |
| Tiger | tigress |
| Testator | testatrix |
| Traitor | traitress |
| Tutor | tutoress |
| Tyrant | tyranness |
| Victor | victress |
| Viscount | viscountess |
| Votary | votaress |
| Widower | widow |
3. By prefixing another word; as,
| A cock-sparrow | A hen-sparrow |
| A man-servant | A maid-servant |
| A he-goat | A she-goat |
| A he-bear | A she-bear |
| A male-child | A female-child |
| Male-descendants | Female-descendants |
