catflap.org Online Dictionary Query

  Grammar \Gram"mar\, n. [OE. gramere, OF. gramaire, F. grammaire
     Prob. fr. L. gramatica Gr ?, fem. of ? skilled in grammar,
     fr. ? letter. See Gramme, Graphic, and cf. Grammatical,
     Gramarye.]
     1. The science which treats of the principles of language;
        the study of forms of speech, and their relations to one
        another; the art concerned with the right use and
        application of the rules of a language, in speaking or
        writing.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: The whole fabric of grammar rests upon the classifying
           of words according to their function in the sentence.
           --Bain.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     2. The art of speaking or writing with correctness or
        according to established usage; speech considered with
        regard to the rules of a grammar.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              The original bad grammar and bad spelling.
                                                    --Macaulay.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. A treatise on the principles of language; a book
        containing the principles and rules for correctness in
        speaking or writing.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. treatise on the elements or principles of any science; as,
        a grammar of geography.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Comparative grammar, the science which determines the
        relations of kindred languages by examining and comparing
        their grammatical forms.
  
     Grammar school.
        (a) A school, usually endowed, in which Latin and Greek
            grammar are taught, as also other studies preparatory
            to colleges or universities; as, the famous Rugby
            Grammar School. This use of the word is more common in
            England than in the United States.
            [1913 Webster]
  
                  When any town shall increase to the number of a
                  hundred
                  families or householders, they shall set up a
                  grammar school, the master thereof being able to
                  instruct youth so far as they may be fitted for
                  the University.                   --Mass.
                                                    Records
                                                    (1647).
        (b) In the American system of graded common schools, at
            one time the term referred to an intermediate school
            between the primary school and the high school, in
            which the principles of English grammar were taught;
            now, it is synonymous with primary school or
            elementary school, being the first school at which
            children are taught subjects required by the state
            educational laws. In different communities, the
            grammar school (primary school) may have grades 1 to
            4, 1 to 6, or 1 to 8, usually together with a
            kindergarten. Schools between the primary school and
            high school are now commonly termed middle school or
            intermediate school.
            [1913 Webster +PJC]

  Grammar \Gram"mar\, n. [OE. gramere, OF. gramaire, F. grammaire
     Prob. fr. L. gramatica Gr ?, fem. of ? skilled in grammar,
     fr. ? letter. See Gramme, Graphic, and cf. Grammatical,
     Gramarye.]
     1. The science which treats of the principles of language;
        the study of forms of speech, and their relations to one
        another; the art concerned with the right use aud
        application of the rules of a language, in speaking or
        writing.
  
     Note: The whole fabric of grammar rests upon the classifying
           of words according to their function in the sentence.
           --Bain.
  
     2. The art of speaking or writing with correctness or
        according to established usage; speech considered with
        regard to the rules of a grammar.
  
              The original bad grammar and bad spelling.
                                                    --Macaulay.
  
     3. A treatise on the principles of language; a book
        containing the principles and rules for correctness in
        speaking or writing.
  
     4. treatise on the elements or principles of any science; as,
        a grammar of geography.
  
     Comparative grammar, the science which determines the
        relations of kindred languages by examining and comparing
        their grammatical forms.
  
     Grammar school.
        (a) A school, usually endowed, in which Latin and Greek
            grammar are taught, as also other studies preparatory
            to colleges or universities; as, the famous Rugby
            Grammar School. This use of the word is more common in
            England than in the United States.
  
                  When any town shall increase to the number of a
                  hundred families or householders, they shall set
                  up a grammar school, the master thereof being
                  able to instruct youth so far as they may be
                  fitted for the University.        --Mass.
                                                    Records
                                                    (1647).
        (b) In the American system of graded common schools an
            intermediate grade between the primary school and the
            high school, in which the principles of English
            grammar are taught.