The possessive case of nouns is formed, in the singular number, by adding to the nominative s preceded by an apostrophe; and, in the plural, when the nominative ends in s, by adding an apostrophe only: as, singular, boy's; plural, boys';sounded alike, but written differently.

Some usually insert the apostrophe, and, after a single vowel, double the final consonant before st; as, hold'st, bidd'st, said'st, ledd'st, wedd'st, trimm'st, may'st, might'st, and so forth: others, in numerous instances, add st only, and form permanent contractions; as, holdst, bidst, saidst, ledst, wedst, trimst, mayst, mightst, and so forth.

So unsettled is this part of our grammar, that in many such cases it is difficult cult to say whether we ought to use the apostrophe, or the hyphen, or both, or neither.

I have heard a still coarser apostrophe by the same gentleman.

do not strip me of the comforts I still possess!" While I uttered this apostrophe, the unpremeditated eloquence of sentiment, I could perceive by their gestures, though the day had not yet begun to dawn, that the feelings of one or two of the company appeared to take my part.

He will one day clothe his apostrophes and objurgations, his astronomical religion and his charnel-house morality, in lasting verse, which will stand, like a Juggernaut made of gold and jewels, at once magnificent and repulsive; for this divine is Edward Young, the future author of Night Thoughts.

With eyes closed and hands folded on the top of the knotted staff which he carried but never used, he delivered an apostrophe to the "spotless soul of youth," enticed by the "spirit of adventure" to "launch away upon the unploughed sea of the future!"

The possessive case often drops the apostrophe; as in herdsman, kitesfoot.

"For example, in this issue I find the following apostrophe."

After every fact concerning our Lord, follows an apostrophe to his mother, which I omit, being compelled to choose.

Alaric Watts, "the fireside bard," giving us a touching apostrophe to his "youngling of the flock," in melting verse, warm from that kindred fancy "Whose blessed words Can bid the sweetest dreams arise; Awaken feeling's tenderest chords, And drown in tears of joy the eyes.

My conductor, without answering this apostrophe, bade her push an easy chair which stood in one corner, and set it directly before the fire.

Thus, having 'improved' Tasso's apostrophe to the bella età dell' oro almost beyond recognition, Dancer complacently closes the chorus with the following parody: We'l hope, since there's no joy, when once one dies We'l hope, that as we have seen with our eies The Sun to set, so we may see it rise.

He says, "When the name does end with the sound of s or z, (no matter what letter represents the sound,) the possessive form is made by annexing only an apostrophe.

The first time that Delsarte encountered certain of those zealous legitimists, who are said to be "more royalist than the king," he launched this apostrophe at their heads: "I hear that your young man was in no haste to pay his respects to His Holiness.

It seems, however, that the necessity is spared of my making so pathetic an apostrophe.

Then, leaning her cheek upon her hand, she poured forth Juliet's impassioned apostrophe.

The perception of this prompted the exultant apostrophe of Buddha, "Looking for the maker of this tabernacle, I have run through a course of many births, not finding him; and painful is birth again and again.

And he snatched convulsively at the handle of the protruded knife; but as soon as he nearly touched it, this end was immediately withdrawn, and the blade end substituted, which made the comic Macbeth instantly draw back again, and recommence his apostrophe.

" The boy disappeared, returning shortly with a well-thumbed volume, which the B.A. opened and selected Satan's famous apostrophe to the Sun for explanation.

In your delirium you demanded it; you would not be without it; you caressed it, and addressed to it the tenderest apostrophes.'

"After he had written down the striking apostrophe which occurs at about page 76 of most of the editions'Eternal God!

Where, in any other heathen writer, shall we find such noble words as those which close the apostrophe in the Tusculans?"One single day well spent, and in accordance with thy precepts, were better to be chosen than an immortality of sin!"