And though not one of his nine definitions now stands exactly as it did in his early editions, I think it may be said, that not one of them is now, if it ever has been, expressed grammatically.
21.

FIRST DEFINITION:--"An Article is a word _prefixed_ to substantives, _to point them out_, and to show how far their[68] signification extends."-- _Murray, and others, from, Lowth's Gram._, p.10.This is obscure.

In what manner, or in what respect, does an article point out substantives?
To point them out _as such_, or to show which words are substantives, seems at first view to be the meaning intended; but it is said soon after, "_A_ or _an_ is used in a vague sense, to _point out_ one single _thing_ of the kind, in other respects _indeterminate_; as, 'Give me _a_ book;' 'Bring me _an_ apple.'"-- _Lowth_, p.

11; _Murray_, p.31.

And again: "It is _of the nature_ of both the articles to determine or limit _the thing_ spoken of."-- _Murray's Gram._, 8vo, p.170.Now to point out _nouns_ among the parts of speech, and to point out _things_ as individuals of their class, are very different matters; and which of these is the purpose for which articles are used, according to Lowth and Murray?
Their definition says the former, their explanations imply the latter; and I am unable to determine which they really meant.