50. Compound words may be divided into two classes:--

50. Compound words may be divided into two classes:--

(1) _Those whose parts are so closely joined as to constitute one word._ These make the last part plural.

courtyard dormouse Englishman fellow-servant fisherman Frenchman forget-me-not goosequill handful mouthful cupful maidservant pianoforte stepson spoonful titmouse

(2) _Those groups in which the first part is the principal one, followed by a word or phrase making a modifier._ The chief member adds _-s_ in the plural.

aid-de-camp attorney at law billet-doux commander in chief court-martial cousin-german father-in-law knight-errant hanger-on

NOTE.--Some words ending in _-man_ are not compounds of the English word _man_, but add _-s_; such as _talisman_, _firman_, _Brahman_, _German_, _Norman_, _Mussulman_, _Ottoman_.

51. Some groups pluralize both parts of the group; as _man singer_, _manservant_, _woman servant_, _woman singer_.

[Sidenote: _Two methods in use for names with titles._]

52. As to plurals of names with titles, there is some disagreement among English writers. The title may be plural, as _the Messrs. Allen_, _the Drs. Brown_, _the Misses Rich_; or the name may be pluralized.

The former is perhaps more common in present-day use, though the latter is often found; for example,--

Then came Mr. and Mrs. Briggs, and then _the three Miss Spinneys_, then Silas Peckham.--DR. HOLMES.

Our immortal Fielding was of the younger branch of the _Earls of Denbigh_, who drew their origin from the _Counts of Hapsburgh_.--GIBBON.

The _Miss Flamboroughs_ were reckoned the best dancers in the parish.--GOLDSMITH.

The _Misses Nettengall's_ young ladies come to the Cathedral too.--DICKENS.

The _Messrs. Harper_ have done the more than generous thing by Mr. Du Maurier.--_The Critic_.

53. A number of foreign words have been adopted into English without change of form. These are said to be _domesticated_, and retain their foreign plurals.

Others have been adopted, and by long use have altered their power so as to conform to English words. They are then said to be _naturalized_, or _Anglicized_, or _Englished_.

[Sidenote: _Domesticated words._]

The domesticated words may retain the original plural. Some of them have a secondary English plural in _-s_ or _-es_.

Exercise.

Find in the dictionary the plurals of these words:--