PREFACE.
different constructions in which the same word occurs (e.g. അലങ്ക
രിക്ക), its various applications (e. g. അടങ്ങുക), allusions to the tra-
ditions and superstitions of the people (അട്ട, അരണ), standing phrases
(അടക്കം, അവസ്ഥ) and proverbial expressions (അട്ടം, അതിബുദ്ധി, അ
ത്യാശ, അൻപു, അമ്പാഴം, അശ്വിനി, അള), these points have been es-
pecially considered in selecting the illustrations. The Compounds
and Derivatives are arranged under each leading word in alphabetical
order, but are not treated at the length that appeared necessary in the
case of the parent words.
9. The orthography of each word is fixed at the head of the article
which treats of it, but in the illustrations deviations are allowed, when
they exhibit a current pronunciation (e.g. അടെപ്പു, അടപ്പു), or are
borne out by the constant usage of some locality or caste (അമൃതു, അമ
രേത്തു), or when, as in the case of the numerous Tadbhavams, it is
caused by the inequalities of the Sanscrit and Dravidian alphabets
(e.g. അത്തം, അത്തി).
10. It cannot be expected that the work should be compressed
within the same compass as the Rev. Mr. Bailey's Dictionary. Not
that the latter will always be found the more concise of the two. It
is one of the chief defects of that, otherwise valuable, work, that it
does not discriminate between Malayālam and Sanscrit terms and
leaves the student completely in the dark, both as regards the ety-
mology and the proportional importance of words. For it concedes
to unknown and useless words (e.g. അജശൃംഗി, അമൃണാളം) as well as
to those that are comparatively unimportant (as ഇതി, ച) more space,
than to words of the genuine native stock that occur frequently in idi-
oms of daily current use (e.g. (അടുക്കുന്നു, അല്ല). In consequence it
will be found, that the Sanscrit part of the present work (see for
instance the compounds with അനു, അപ, അഭി) occupies less space
than was the case in the former Dictionary, and this without any
detriment to the subject matter. The progress made in the study
of Sanscrit subsequent to the appearance of Dr. Wilson's Dictionary
(on which the Sanscrit portion of Mr. Bailey's work is based) has
enabled the writer to throw new light even on this part of his task.
