Such are many names of qualities (as cheerfulness, mirth), of sciences (as chemistry[15]), of forces (as gravitation).
Many nouns, commonly used in the singular only, may take a plural in some special sense. Thus,—
| earth (the globe) | earths (kinds of soil) |
| ice (frozen water) | ices (food) |
| tin (a metal) | tins (tin dishes or cans) |
| nickel (a metal) | nickels (coins) |
83. Some nouns are used in the plural only.
Such are:
- annals,
- athletics,
- billiards,
- dregs,
- eaves,
- entrails,
- lees,
- nuptials,
- oats,
- obsequies,
- pincers,
- proceeds,
- riches,
- scissors,
- shears,
- suds,
- tweezers,
- tongs,
- trousers,
- victuals,
- vitals;
- ashes,
- goods,
- links,
- scales,
- spectacles,
- stocks.
84. A few nouns are plural in form, but singular in meaning.
Such are:
- gallows,
- news,
- measles,
- mumps,
- small pox (for small pocks),
- politics,