s quite a rational division: _Material nouns_ are the
names of things formed of matter; as, stone, book: _Immaterial
nouns_ are the names of things having no substance; as, hope,
immortality.

To nouns belong gender, person, number, and case.

GENDER.

GENDER is the distinction of sex. Nouns have three genders, the
masculine, the feminine, and the neuter.

The _masculine gender_ denotes males; as, a _man_, a _boy_.

The _feminine gender_ denotes females; as, a _woman_, a _girl_.

The _neuter gender_ denotes things without sex; as, a _hat_, a _stick_.

_Neuter_ means _neither:_ therefore neuter gender signifies neither
gender; that is, neither masculine nor feminine. Hence, neuter gender
means _no gender_. Strictly speaking, then, as there are but two sexes,
nouns have but _two_ genders; but for the sake of practical convenience,
we apply to them three genders, by calling that a gender which is _no_
gender. The English and the pure Persian, appear to be the only
languages which observe, in the distinction of sex, the natural division
of nouns.--The genders of nouns are so easily known, that a farther
explanation of them is unnecessary, except what is given in the
following

NOTES.

1. The same noun is sometimes masculine _and_ feminine, and
sometimes masculine _or_ feminine. The noun _parents_ is of the
masculine _and_ feminine gender. The nouns _parent, associate,
neighbor, servant, friend, child, bird, fish, &c._ if doubtful, are
of the masculine _or_ feminine gender.

2. Some nouns naturally neuter, are, when used figuratively, or
_personified_, converted into the masculine or feminine gender.
Those nouns are generally rendered masculine, which are conspicuous
for the attributes of imparting or communicating, and which are by
nature strong and efficacious; as, the _sun, time, death, sleep,
winter, &c._ Those, again, are generally feminine, which are
conspicuous for the attributes of containing or bringing forth, or
which are very beautiful, mild, or amiable; as, the _earth, moon,
church, boat, vessel, city, country, nature, ship, soul, fortune,
virtue, hope, spring, peace, &c._ This principle for designating the
sex of a personified object, which is quite rational, is generally
adhered to in the English language; but, in some instances, the poet
applies the sex according to his fancy.

The masculine and feminine g