Preface

[ 9 ] PREFACE.

In giving his Malayalim and English Dictionary to the

public, the Author stated in his preface to that work the

desirableness of a counterpart to accompany it, viz. an

English and Malayalim Dictionary, being published and

his having prepared materials to commence the printing

of it. This he was desirous of commencing at as early a

period as possible, but various circumstances occurring he

was for a time induced to abandon the design of publish-

ing it. Not willing however that his labour in this respect

should be wholly lost, he again took up the work and

ventured to put it to the press, and he feels truly thankful

to God that he has graciously spared him to complete the

printing of it. The work is not however executed on so

large a scale as he originally designed. It was his inten-

tion to have given copious examples under most of the

words, but finding that this would increase the work to a

large size, he was under the necessity of confining himself

to giving comparatively few examples.

Many words have been omitted, particularly Adverbs,

but these may easily be formed by the diligent student

from Substantives and Adjectives, by the Malayalim af-

fix ആയി or ഒടെ, as will appear in numerous instances

throughout the work.

The principal meanings given to each English word

by Johnson and Walker have been given in Malayalim, and

in this respect the author has endeavoured to render it as

comprehensive as possible. [ 10 ] This being the first work of the kind ever published

it cannot of course be expected to be perfect or incapable

of improvement. Of this the Author is fully sensible and

therefore claims the indulgence and candour of every im-

partial consulter of a work which has been executed with

no little labour, and a desire to give the correct rendering

of the words in Malayalim in all their meanings.

In the first two letters of the Alphabet the word To

is not prefixed to verbs. This was entirely an oversight.

This omission is supplied from the letter C to the end of

the work.

In reference to the work itself the Author flatters him-

self that it will prove of considerable utility not only to the

native student who is wishful to acquire a knowledge of

the English language, but also to Europeans desirous of

obtaining a knowledge of the Malayalim language. In

either case the object of the Author will be realized.

The Author desires again to record his most grateful

acknowledgments to General Cullen, British Resident of

Travancore and Cochin, for the very great interest he has

taken in this work as in his former Dictionary, not only in

warmly and liberally patronizing it himself, but in recom-

mending it to others and procuring for it the patronage of

the Rajah of Travancore and the Government of Fort St.

George, Madras.

THE AUTHOR.

COTTAYAM,

November 1849.