Chapter IX: Section III: Of Number

Number is the consideration of an object as one or more; as, one _poet_, two, three, four, five _poets_; and so on, ad infinitum.

Other countries may reckon up as many poets as they please; England has _one more_.

The singular number expresses one object only; as, a towel, a viper.

The plural signifies more objects than one; as, towels, vipers.

Some nouns are used only in the singular number; dirt, pitch, tallow, grease, filth, butter, asparagus, &c.; others only in the plural; as, galligaskins, breeches, &c.

Some words are the same in both numbers; as, sheep, swine, and some others.

“A doctor, both to sheep and swine,”
Said Mrs. Glass, “I am;
For legs of mutton I can _dress_,
And shine in _curing_ ham.”

The plural number of nouns is usually formed by adding s to the singular; as, dove, doves, love, loves, &c.

Julia, _dove_ returns to _dove_,
Quid pro quo, and _love_ for _love_;
Happy in our mutual _loves_,
Let us live like turtle _doves_!

When, however, the substantive singular ends in x, ch _soft_, sh, ss, or s, we add es in the plural.

But remember, though box
In the plural makes boxes,
That the plural of ox
Should be _oxen_, not _oxes_.

A few _Singular Plurals_, or Plurals popularly varied, are as follow:--

SINGULAR. PLURAL.
Beast Beastes, beastices.
Crust Crustes.
Gust Gustes.
Ghost Ghostes.
Host Hostes.
Joist Joistes.
Mist Mistes.
Nest Nestes.
Post, &c. Postes, postices, &c.

_Note._--The singular is often used, by a kind of licence conceded to persons of refinement, for the plural; as, “May I trouble you for _a bean_?” “Will you assist Miss Spriggins to _a pea_?” So also people say, “A few _green_.” “Two or three _radish_,” &c.