Chapter VIII: Of Prepositions

Prepositions are, for the most part, put before nouns and pronouns: as, “out _of_ the frying-pan _into_ the fire.”

Two prepositions, _with_ and _without_, are sometimes (as we have been informed) used in the place of substantives: as, “cold _without_, warm _with_.”

The preposition _of_ is sometimes used as a part of speech of peculiar signification, and one to which no name has as yet been applied: as, “What have you been doing _of_?”

_At_ and _up_ are not rarely used as verbs, but we should scarcely have been justified in so classing them by the authority of any polite writer; such use of them being confined to the vulgar: as, “Now then, Bill, _at_ him again.” “So she _upped_ with her fists, and fetched him a whop.”

_After_ is improperly pronounced _arter_, and _against_, _agin_: as, “Hallo! Jim, vot are you _arter_? don’t you know that ere’s _agin_ the Law?”