[Sidenote: two plurals.]
48. A few nouns have two plurals differing in meaning.
brother--brothers (by blood), brethren (of a society or church).
cloth--cloths (kinds of cloth), clothes (garments).
die--dies (stamps for coins, etc.), dice (for gaming).
fish--fish (collectively), fishes (individuals or kinds).
genius--geniuses (men of genius), genii (spirits).
index--indexes (to books), indices (signs in algebra).
pea--peas (separately), pease (collectively).
penny--pennies (separately), pence (collectively).
shot--shot (collective balls), shots (number of times fired).
In speaking of coins, _twopence_, _sixpence_, etc., may add _-s_,
making a double plural, as two _sixpences_.
[Sidenote: One plural, two meanings.]
49. Other words have one plural form with two meanings,--one
corresponding to the singular, the other unlike it.
custom--customs: (1) habits, ways; (2) revenue duties.
letter--letters: (1) the alphabet, or epistles; (2) literature.
number--numbers: (1) figures; (2) poetry, as in the lines,--
I lisped in _numbers_, for the numbers came.--POPE.
Tell me not, in mournful _numbers_.--LONGFELLOW.
_Numbers_ also means issues, or copies, of a periodical.
pain--pains: (1) suffering; (2) care, trouble,
part--parts: (1) divisions; (2) abilities, faculties.
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