How to parse. ...

142

IRRE GULARITIES.

[Par. 219.

a Compound Adjective " many-one," i.e. in Modern
English " many-a." (See Shakespearian Grammar,
Par. 85.) This began in the thirteenth century.
In the same way the Germans say " mancher
(Adj.) mann," but "manch (Adv.) ein mann."
The insertion of " a" is common after Adjectives
that are semi-Adverbial. Compare(3) " What a man he is! "
(4) "Such a man as he is ought to know better."
And, in Early English: —
(5) "Each a man," "which a wife," i.e. "what a
wife."
Shakespeare also has
(6) " Poor (i.e. barely) a thousand pounds."
It is rare to find "many" (like "few ") now
treated as a Noun (Shakespeare has "a many of
our bodies "):(6) "A many (of) men."
2I9 4. "More:"(1) " Give me some, no, much, &c. more pudding."
(2) " Give me three more books, one more book."
Here " more" is an Adverb, and means " besides."
But it owes its position to a confusion of the Adverbial with the Adjectival use of " more." Hence,
instead of saying " Some pudding more, i.e. in
addition," we say "some more pudding."