PLAN OF THE TAMIL LEXICON-6

2.

When a single word is used both as a noun and  as a verb, the  noun and the verb are treated separately in two articles ; but in cases, where a word is used in different parts of speech, other than verb, it is treated in a single article. But its meanings are separately numbered under each part of  speech.

3.

.In showing the transitive and  intransitive and intransitive uses of verbs, an invariable order is not followed. Preponderance of use determining the order, sometimes the transitive and sometimes the intransitive is given first

4.

Some verbs are conjugated in two or more, as shown by the numerals prefixed to v.

5..

When, after the mention of the parts of speech of a word, the indication 'see' is written and next to it the word to be looked  up, the  intention is that the meanings under the same parts of speech are to be referred to.

6.

Among synonyms, i.e., among different words having identical meaning, the commonest in use is treated in full ; and other words are referred to the commonest synonym, e.g.,

Technical (Latin or other) equivalents are given under the commonly used names of minerals, plants, animals, etc., and not under their less known synonyms

7.

Where, in giving English meanings, the italicized transliteration of a Tamil word is given, the Tamil word thus presented may be referred to in its place in the Lexicon for a full explanation. Thus in 'அமுதவெழுத்து... the word  தசாங்கம்... is to be consulted.

8.

Technical words pertaining to schools of philosophy, religion, arts, sciences, etc., have abbreviated indications of the specials branch of learning they relate to e.g.,  சற்காரியவாதம்... (Phill.).

9.

As in the case of Winslow's Tamil, Brown's Telugu, Kittel's Kanarese, and Gundert's Malayalam  dictionaries, the meaning in English was regarded, in the earliest stages of the Tamil Lexicon, as the main requisite. Consequently, in the earlier parts of the Lexicon, the Tamil equivalents were not given for some simple words ; and the English renderings were more detailed than the Tamil equivalents. But form Volume II onwards, the Tamil equivalents are as  detailed as the English renderings

10.

The suffix  தல் is used in the Tamil meanings of verbs and the suffix  கை in those of verbal nouns, e.g.,  அறை-தல்-மோதுதல் ; அறை-மோதுகை.

11.

In  the case of well-known enumerative group-names, as எழுகடல்,the  individuals of the group are mentioned in each case. Each of these is explained, in its respective place, as one of the group, e.g., உப்புக்கடல், one of c‰n-ka-al,  q.v.