A Preposition is a substantive part of speech set before other names,
most commonly substantives, either in apposition, as, _before a noun_,
or in composition, as, _preposition_, to denote the situation or place
of action, or rest of the things, to which they are joined; at the same
time implying their similar relations or kindred; and connecting the
names of substances, as, _from_ this book, _with_ the pen of the writer;
or _from thence_, it may be inferred that prepositions are of themselves
significant of things. But the use of prepositions or the names of cases
are best understood from the following explanation thereof.
It is observable that O is an universal expression for the circle of
motion and extension; that i signifies a perpendicular line or man placed
in its center; and that this line, with a traverse one, expressed by T or
⊥ and signifying mankind and other beings and things as extended, and
the properties of man denote the nominative case, or that in which they
were first named; and all the other cases, as they happen upon, up or
down, or to or from either of these lines, are distinguished as in the
following example.
[Illustration]
These prepositions are definable as follows.
In, with, within, to, into, unto, at, towards. In, signifies man placed
in the center of existences, as a middle being, partaking of, and
connecting matter with spirit; with is the spring of i into male and
female, and T their possessions inflected; within is the same in the
circle of possession: to is T-O, the property of motion from T to the
circle of motion; into the same within the possessions; unto, at, and
towards, the same towards man or the line of possession; afore, before,
against, signify things or parts in and out of the borders of possession.
After, behind, since, according to. After is off T or the border of
possession; behind is to be after man in possession; since, having been
in possession; according to, agreeing together in acting; between,
betwixt, among, amongst, for, from, about; for, the parts or things of
the circle of possession; about and from the parts or things within the
circle of possessions of men; between and betwixt, the line i dividing
the possessions; among and amongst, the things about the circle of
possession. Above, up, on, upon; above, the upper spring of the human
sight; up, the spring part, on and upon the sky.
Under, below, beneath, down. Under, not sprung within or up the
possessions; down, not sprung in; below, from being up; beneath, to be
not in possession.
Out, of, from, out of, without. Out, from the possessions of men and
things; of, the things within the borders; from, the surrounding parts
therein; without, out of possession.
By, through, over, over and above, besides, beyond, except, until. By,
the part; besides, below the part; beyond, by the upper covering; thro’,
from the possessions; over, from the spring of sight; except, acting out
of the possession part; until, during the spring or possession of light;
the two last names serve also for conjunctions.