113

Perf. or Pass. Part.

clung.

clad, R.

come.

cost.
crowed.
crept.
cut.

Dare, to venture, durst,

dared.

† Gotten is nearly obsolete. Its compound forgotten is still

in good use.

In the preceding list, some of the verbs will be found to be conjugated regularly, as well as irregularly; and those which admit of the regular form are marked with an R. There is a preference to be given to some of these, which custom and judgment must determine. Those preterits and participles which are first mentioned in the list, seem to be the most eligible. The Compiler has not inserted such verbs as are irregular only in familiar writing or discourse, and which are improperly terminated by t, instead of ed: as, learnt, spelt, spilt, &c. These should be avoided in every sort of composition. It is, however, proper to observe, that some contractions of ed into t, are unexceptionable: and others, the only established forms of expression: as, crept, dwelt, gilt, &c. and lost, felt, slept, &c. These allowable and necessary contractions must therefore be carefully distinguished, by the learner, from those that are exceptionable. The words which are obsolete have also been omitted, that the learner might not be induced to mistake them for words in present use. Such are, wreathen, drunken, holpen, molten, gotten, holden, bounden, &c.: and swang, wrang, slank, strawed, gat, brake, tare, ware, &c.

SECT. 11. Of Defective Verbs; and of the different ways in which verbs are conjugated.

DEFECTIVE VERBS are those which are used only in some of their moods and tenses.

The principal of them are these.