Defectives are substantives having, by reason of their meaning or use, only one number or only certain cases. Thus, sing. only: ὁ ἀήρ air, ὁ αἰθήρ upper air; plur. only: τὰ Διονῡ́σια, τὰ Ὀλύμπια the Dionysiac (Olympic) festival, οἱ ἐτησίαι annual winds; in some cases only: ὦ μέλε my good sir or madam; ὄναρ dream; ὄφελος use only in nom.; λιβός λίβα from *λίψ stream, libation.
Topic · from the English index · as printed
Defective
substantive
§283IRREGULAR DECLENSION
comparison, of adjectives
§320COMPARISON OF ADJECTIVES
Defectives.—Some comparatives and superlatives are derived from prepositions or adverbs:
| (πρό before) | πρότερος former | πρῶτος first |
| (ὑπέρ over, beyond) | ὑπέρτερος (poetic) higher, | ὑπέρτατος (poetic) high- |
| superior. | est, supreme. | |
| (πλησίον near) | πλησιαίτερος | πλησιαίτατος |
| (προὔργου serviceable) | προυργιαίτερος | |
| ὕστερος later, latter | ὕστατος latest, last |
a. -ατος appears in ὕπατος highest, ἔσχατος farthest, extreme (from ἐξ).