A noun or pronoun in the objective case, is often governed by a
preposition understood; as, "Give _him_ that book;" that is, "Give that
book _to_ him;" "Ortugrul was one _day_ wandering," &c. that is, _on_
one day. "Mercy gives _affliction_ a grace;" that is, Mercy gives a
grace _to_ affliction. See Note 1, under Rule 32.
To be able to make a proper use of prepositions, particular attention is
requisite. There is a peculiar propriety to be observed in the use of
_by_ and _with;_ as, "He walks _with_ a staff _by_ moonlight;" "He was
taken _by_ stratagem, and killed _with_ a sword." Put the one
preposition for the other, and say, "He walks _by_ a staff _with_
moonlight;" "He was taken _with_ stratagem, and killed _by_ a sword;"
and it will appear, that the latter expressions differ from the former
in signification, more than one, at first view, would be apt to imagine.
Verbs are often compounded of a verb and a _preposition;_ as, to
_up_hold, to _with_stand, to _over_look; and this composition gives a
new meaning to the verb; as, to _under_stand, to _with_draw, to
_for_give. But the preposition is more frequently placed after the verb,
and separately from it, like an adverb; in which situation it does not
less affect the sense of the verb, and give it a new meaning; and in all
instances, whether the preposition is placed either before or after the
verb, if it gives a new meaning to the verb, it may be considered as _a
part of the verb_. Thus, _to cast_ means _to throw_; but _to cast up_ an
account, signifies _to compute_ it; therefore _up_ is a part of the
verb. The phrases, _to fall on, to bear out, to give over_, convey very
different meanings from what they would if the prepositions _on, out_
and _over_, were not used. Verbs of this kind are called _compound_
verbs.