Note 61 — SENTENCES.
Reading edition
Adjectives are sometimes employed as Adverbs; improperly, and not agreeably to the Genius of the English Language. As, “extreme elaborate:” Dryden, Essay on Dram. Poet. “marvellous graceful:” Clarendon, Life, p. 18. “extreme unwilling;” “extreme subject:” Swift, Tale of a Tub, and Battle of Books. “I shall endeavour to live hereafter suitable to a man in my station.” Addison, Spect. Nᵒ 530. “Homer describes this river agreeable to the vulgar reading.” Pope, Note on Iliad, ii. v. 1032. So exceeding, for exceedingly, however improper, occurs frequently in the Vulgar Translation of the Bible, and has obtained in common discourse. “We should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world.” Tit. ii. 12.
“O Liberty, Thou Goddess heavenly bright.” Addison.
On the other hand an Adverb is improperly used as an Adjective in the following passage: “We may cast in such seeds and principles, as we judge most likely to take soonest and deepest root.” Tillotson, Vol. I. Serm. 52.