A  second  species  of  this  figure  is  when  words  vv^hich,  from
their  etymology,  appear  to  be  api)licable  solely  to  one  kind
of  thing,  come  afterward  to  be  applied  to  another,  which  is
nearly  related  in  its  nature  or  design,  but  with  which,  never-
theless, the  analysis  of  tlie  word  will  not  accord.  This  is
sometimes  not  only  excusable  from  necessity,  as  when  the
language  doth  not  iurnish  a  proper  term,  but  sometimes  also
receives  the  sanction  of  general  use  ;  and  in  this  case,  what-
ever it  was  originally,  it  becomes  proper.  I  shall  give  some
examples  of  this  in  our  own  tongue.  As  it  is  probable  that
among  our  Saxon  ancestors  candle  holders  were  solely  made
of  wood,  they  were  properly  denominated  candlesticks ;  after-
ward, when,  through  an  increase  of  wealth  and  luxury,  such
utensils  were  made  of  metal,  the  old  name  was  nevertheless
retained,  and  at  first,  by  a  catachresis,  applied  to  these.  But
the  application  is  now  "ratified,  and  the  word  appropriated  by
custom.  The  name  inhhorn,  denoting  a  portable  case  for  hold-
ing ink,  probably  at  first  made  only  of  hern,  is  a  similar  in-
stance. In  like  manner,  the  word  parricide  in  English,  like
parricida  in  Latin,  at  first  perhaps  signified  only  the  murderer
of  his  father,  but  hath  come  to  be  equally  applied  to  him  who
murders  his  mother,  his  brother,  or  his  sister.  In  all  these
instances  there  was  an  excuse  at  first  from  necessity,  the
language  not  affording  words  strictly  proper;  but  now,  hav-
ing obtained  the  universal  suffrage,  which  in  every  country
gives  law  to  language,  they  need  no  excuse.  There  is  an  in-
stance of  a  catachresis  of  this  kind  in  our  translation  of  the
Bible,  which  (not  being  supported  by  the  plea  of  necessity)
ought  to  be  considered  as  a  glaring  impropriety  :  "  He  made
tlie  laver  of  brass,  and  the  foot  of  it  of  brass,  of  the  look-
ing-glasses of  the  womeli.''*  It  is,  however,  probable  that  the
word  mirror  was  not  in  such  common  use  then  as  it  is  now.
