Parse

Your correspondent J.W.H. is far from correct in supposing that this word was not known in 1611, for he will find it used by Roger Ascham, in a passage quoted by Richardson in his *Dictionary* sub voce. In Brinsley's curious *Ludus Literarius*, 1612, reprinted 1627, 4to., the word is frequently used. At page 69. he recommends the "continual practice of *parsing*." At p. 319., enumerating the contents of chap. vi., we have "The Questions of the Accidence, called the *Poasing* of the English Parts;" and chap. ix. is "Of *Parsing* and the kinds thereof, &c." At the end of a kind of introduction t…