PARTICIPLES AND VERBALS: Participles passive, confusion in
Participles, Passive. It has been shown (294) that, from the licence of converting nouns, adjectives, and neuter verbs into active verbs, there arose an indefinite and apparently not passive use of Passive Participles. Such instances as(possess being frequently used as an active verb,) may thus be explained. Perhaps,“Of all he dies possess'd of,
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may be similarly explained. Compare also:“And, gladly quaked (made to quake), hear more,
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But, in the following, we can only say that, in the excessive use of this licence, -ed is loosely employed for -ful, -ing, or some other affix expressing connection.“All the whole army stood agazed on him.
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“Revenge the jeering and disdain'd contempt.
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As we talk of "watching (during) the night," this may explain“Brooded-watchful day.
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But more probably "all-watched" (like "o'er-watched," J. C. iv. 3. 241) resembles "weary," and means "tired with watching." For this use of adjectives see 4.“The weary and all-watched night.
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“Grim-look'd night.
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It is perhaps still not unusual to say "the tide is ebbed."“The ebbed man.
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“A moulten raven.
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“With sainted vow.
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“And at our more considered time we'll read.
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Sometimes passive participles are used as epithets to describe the state which would be the result of the active verb. Thus:“Unconstrained gyves.
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; M. N. D. iii. 2. 402. i.e. "Why do I find you with your swords drawn?"“Why are you drawn?
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"The valued file" (Macb. iii. 1. 95) perhaps means "the file or catalogue to which values are attached."“Under the blow of thralled discontent.
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