BY EXPLAINING WORDS AND PHRASES, FROM THE RITES AND
CUSTOMS TO WHICH THEY REFER.

BY ALEXANDER ADAM, LL. D.

RECTOR OF THE HIGH SCHOOL Of Edinburgh.

THE EIGHTH EDITION, CORRECTED.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR CADELL AND DAVIES; F. C. AND J. RIVINGTON; G. WILKIE; LONGMAN,
HURST, REES, ORME, AND BROWN; LACKINGTON AND CO.; W. GINGER; J. MAWMAN ;
J. BOOKER; R. S. KIRBY; G. AND W. B. WHITTAKER; AND B. REYNOLDS AND A.
CONSTABLE AND CO., MANNERS AND MILLER, AND J. FAIRBAIRN, EDINBURGH.

JAN

-5MAR'932

LIBRA

Printed by A. Strahan, Printers Street, London.

PREFACE

то

THE FIRST EDITION.

NOTHING has more engaged the attention of lite

rary men since the revival of learning, than to trace, from ancient monuments, the institutions and laws, the religion, the manners, and customs of the Romans, under the general name of Roman Antiquities. This branch of knowledge is not only curious in itself, but absolutely necessary for understanding the Classics, and for reading with advantage the history of that celebrated people. It is particularly requisite for such as prosecute the study of the civil law.

Scarcely on any subject have more books been written, and many of them by persons of distinguished abilities; but they are for the most part too voluminous to be generally useful. Hence a number of abridgments have been published; of which those of Kennet and Nieuport are esteemed the best. The latter is, on the whole, better adapted than the former to illustrate the Classics; but being written in Latin, and abounding with difficult phrases, is not fitted for the use of younger students. Besides, it contains nothing concerning the laws of the Romans, or the buildings of the city, which are justly reckoned among the most valuable parts in Kennet.