Rudimenta prima grammatices, ex eruditissimis quibusque grammaticis excerpta

What is a substantive? That which stands by itself as a subject for a verb, that is, which when placed with a verb, makes a speech capable of meaning.

Whence is it called a substantive? From the verb "to stand under" substo: because it stands under the adjective in speech.

In how many ways is a substantive inflected? In two. Which? First, by one gender and article: as "this father" hic pater, "this mother" hæc mater, "this temple" hoc templum. Second, by two articles: as "this father or this mother" hic & hæc parens: "this priest" hic & hæc facerdos.

What is an adjective? That which is necessarily added to another, namely a substantive, so that it may render a perfect meaning with a verb.

Whence is it called an adjective? From "to add to" adiicio: because it cannot stand by itself in speech, but is always added to a substantive—whether expressed or understood—to declare its quality or quantity, unless it is used substantively in the neuter gender.

In how many ways is an adjective declined? In four. Which? First, by one ending and three signs of gender: as "this or this or this happy one" hic & hæc & hoc fœlix. Second, by two endings and three articles: as "this or this strong one, and this strong thing" hic & hæc fortis, & hoc forte. Third, by three signs of gender and as many various endings: as "this sharp one, this sharp one, this sharp thing" hic acer, hæc acris, hoc acre. Fourth, by three diverse voices, with signs of the genders: as bonus, bona, bonum good (masc., fem., neut.).

How many kinds of adjectives are there? Three. Noun, as "good"; Pronoun, as "my"; Participle, as "read."

How many things happen to a noun? Seven. Which? Quality, comparison, gender, number, figure, case, along with declension.

What is quality? A distinction of the common from the proper noun: because through it we discern what kind of noun it is, namely, whether it is proper or appellative.

How many qualities are there in a noun? Two. Which? Proper and Appellative.

What is proper? The peculiar name of each individual thing: as John, Peter, Anna, Lucia, Rome, Italy, Seine, Olympus.

What is appellative? The common name of many things: as man, husband, woman, city, river, region, island, month, wind.

What is comparison? The collation of one thing to another: as "Peter is more learned than John."

How many degrees of comparison are there? Three. Which? Positive, as "strong"; Comparative, as "stronger"; Superlative, as "strongest."

Which nouns are compared? Adjectives only, and only those which...