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Preface.
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The want of a Dictionary of Assamese Phrases has long been felt by those who are interested in the cause of the Assamese language and literature. The present work is intended to1emove this want to some extent. There are 2387 phrases in this book. There can be no doubt that the book will be found to contain numerous inaccuracies. I have not been able to give it a shape as I had desired originally, for wait of sufficient leisure. My excuse in rushing it through hurriedly is that the demand for such a book has been felt to be pressing, and I have thought that any book is better than no book.
I have endeavoured to eliminate the phrases in in the best way possible. I have found that people use some phrases freely in their ordinary parlance, though they are absolutely ignorant of their origin. In those cases, I have given such explanations as conform as early as possible to their current meanings. Again, there are phrases which are susceptible to two or more explanations. In those cases, I have given the explanations which appear to be reasonable and bound. If any explanation of u phrase which I have given in this book is found to be incorrect, it is hopped that the generous public will communicate the fact to me, so that tho error may be removed from it in the next edition. I may add, that tho number of phrases in the Assamese language is so large that it is next to impossible to write a dictionary which call claim to be exhaustive. That the number will certainly be lot less than double in the next edition goes without saying.
