I have not rejected any by design, merely because they were unnecessary
or exuberant; but have received those which by different writers
have been differently formed, as viscid, and viscidity, viscous,
and viscosity.

Compounded or double words I have seldom noted, except when they
obtain a signification different from that which the components have
in their simple state. Thus highwayman, woodman, and horsecourser,
require an explanation; but of thieflike or coachdriver no notice
was needed, because the primitives contain the meaning of the
compounds.

Words arbitrarily formed by a constant and settled analogy, like
diminutive adjectives in ish, as greenish, bluish, adverbs in ly,
as dully, openly, substantives in ness, as vileness, faultiness,
were less diligently sought, and sometimes have been omitted, when
I had no authority that invited me to insert them; not that they are
not genuine and regular offsprings of English roots, but because
their relation to the primitive being always the same, their
signification cannot be mistaken.

The verbal nouns in ing, such as the keeping of the castle,
the leading of the army, are always neglected, or placed only to
illustrate the sense of the verb, except when they signify things as
well as actions, and have therefore a plural number, as dwelling,
living; or have an absolute and abstract signification, as colouring,
painting, learning.

The participles are likewise omitted, unless, by signifying rather
habit or quality than action, they take the nature of adjectives;