Let the pupil learn to spell and define the forty-three words printed in the first lesson on that page, and then the eighty-six derivatives formed by the addition of ed and ing, the suffixes at the head of the page.
The analogy which exists in the formation of derivative words is so complete, that by learning to spell and define any additional number of primitive words, which form derivatives by the annexation of the same suffixes, the pupil will obtain a knowledge of all the derivative words thus formed. The same may be said of the derivatives formed by the use of other suffixes. Thus, by learning to spell and define one word, the pupil obtains a knowledge of the spelling and signification of three, which is a gain of two hundred per cent., and makes The Student’s Speller of proportionately greater value to the learner, than the spelling books heretofore published, in which every word must be studied and learned by itself.
The fact that Webster’s Dictionary, Unabridged, is obtaining a wide and rapidly increasing circulation, and is henceforth to be regarded as the standard in this country, seemed to require the publication of a Spelling-Book to teach the orthography and orthoepy of the language as contained in that work, (as many changes have taken place in the language since the publication of the Elementary and other spelling-books,) and it is confidently believed that the publication of this work will supply that demand.
