Denominative

According to the character of the suffix words are called:

a. Primitive (or Primary): formed by the addition of a suffix either to a root or to a verb-stem to which a vowel, usually ε, has been added (485, 486).

Root γραφ: γράφ-ω write, γραφ-ή writing, γραφ-εύ-ς writer, γράμ-μα something written, γραμ-μή line.

Verb-stem γεν-ε in γενέ-σθαι become (ἐγενόμην, γί-γν-ομαι): γένε-σι-ς genesis, origin; τερ-ε (τέρω bore): τέρε-τρο-ν gimlet, instrument for boring.

b. Denominative (or Secondary): formed from a noun-stem (substantive or adjective) or adverb.

γραμ-ματ-εύς writer (stem γραμματ-, nom. γράμμα); εὐδαιμον-ίᾱ happiness (stem εὐδαιμον-, nom. εὐδαίμων); δικαιο-σύνη justice, δίκα-ιο-ς just (δίκη right); φίλ-ιο-ς friendly (φίλο-ς dear); δουλό-ω enslave (δοῦλο-ς slave); παλαι-ό-ς ancient, of old date, from the adverb πάλαι long ago.

Suffixes forming primitive words are called primary suffixes; suffixes forming denominative words are called secondary suffixes.

a. The distinction between primary and secondary suffixes is not original and is often neglected. Thus, in δεινός terrible (δει- fear), νο is a primary suffix; in σκοτεινός dark (σκότος, 858. 11), it is secondary. So English -able is both primary (readable) and secondary (companionable).

b. It is often difficult to determine whether a suffix is added to a verb-stem or to a noun-stem: ἰσχῡ-ρός strong (ἰσχῡ́-ς strength, ἰσχῡ́-ω am strong).

c. A primitive word may be formed from a verb-stem which is itself denominative: τοξευ-τής bowman from τοξεύ-ω shoot with the bow, derived from τόξο-ν bow. A primitive may be formed with a suffix derived from a denominative: φλεγ-υρό-ς burning (φλέγ-ω burn) with υρο from λιγυ-ρό-ς (λιγύ-ς) shrill.

d. A denominative often has no corresponding primitive; sometimes the latter has been lost, sometimes it was presumed for the purpose of word-formation by the imitative process always at work in the making of language. Thus, δέμ-ν-ιο-ν bed, from δεμ-νο-ν (δέμ-ω build, construct).

A verb forming its tense-stems directly from a root is called a primitive verb. A denominative verb forms its tense-stems from a longer verb-stem, originally a noun-stem; as δουλόω enslave from δοῦλος slave. Verbs in μι (379), and verbs in ω of two syllables (in the present indicative active, as λέγ-ω speak) or of three syllables (in the middle, as δέχομαι receive) are generally primitive. Others are denominative.

All compound verbs not compounded with prepositions are denominatives (ending in -εω) and formed from real or assumed compound nouns. From ναῦς ship and μάχη fight comes ναύμαχος fighting in ships, whence ναυμαχέω fight in ships; so οἰκοδομέω build a house from οἰκο-δόμος house-builder (οἶκος, δέμω). Contrast ἀνα-πείθω bring over, convince with ἀ-πιστέω disbelieve (ἄ-πιστος); ἀντι-λέγω speak against with ὁμο-λογέω agree (ὁμόλογος agreeing).—εὖ ἀγγέλλω announce good news cannot form a verb εὐαγγελλω.

a. ἀτῑμάω (ἀτίω) dishonour, δακρυχέω shed tears are exceptions. ἀν-ομοιόω make unlike is not from ἀν- and ὁμοιόω but from ἀν-όμοιος unlike.

NAMES OF ACTIONS AND ABSTRACT SUBSTANTIVES

a. Substantives denoting actions often express abstract idea and names of actions and verbal abstracts are often used co<*> cretely. The following suffixes (except μο, nominative -μό-ς, an ες, nominative -ος) form feminines; all are primary except ιᾱ i<*> some words.

1. τι (nom. -τι-ς): πίσ-τι-ς faith (πείθ-ω persuade, πιθ-), φά-τι-ς rumour (φη<*> say, φα-).

2. σι (nom. -σι-ς): λέξις style (λέγ-ω speak), ποίη-σι-ς poetry (ποιέ-ω make) φθί-σι-ς decay (φθί-ν-ω decay), δό-σι-ς act of giving or gift (δί-δω-μι giv<*> δο-, δω-), θέ-σι-ς placing (τί-θη-μι place, θε-, θη-), τά-σι-ς tension (fo<*> τṇ-σι-ς 35 b, from τείνω stretch, τεν-). σι is derived from τι after vowel (115).

3. σιᾱ (nom. -σίᾱ): in substantives from verbs in -αζω out of -αδ-ῖω; a<*> δοκιμασίᾱ examination (δοκιμάζω examine, δοκ μαδ-).

4. τυ (nom. -τῡ́-ς 863 a. 17): rare, poetic and dialectic, ἐδ-η-τῡ́ς eating (poet<*> ἔδ-ω eat), βοη-τῡ́-ς shouting (βοά-ω shout).

5. μο (nom. -μό-ς, masc.): διωγ-μό-ς pursuit (διώκ-ω pursue), πταρ-μό-ς sneez<*> ing (πτάρ-νυ-μαι sneeze). On θ-μο see 832, σ-μο 836, τ-μο 837. Cp 861. 1.

6. μᾱ (nom. -μη): γνώ-μη knowledge (γι-γνώ-σκω know), φή-μη report, omen (φη-μί say), τῑ-μή honour (poet. τῑ́-ω honour), μνή-μη memory (μι-μνῄ-σκω remind). See also 861. 1.

7. μᾱ (nom. -μᾰ): τόλ-μα daring (τλῆ-ναι dare).

8. ες (nom. -ος, neut.): δέ-ος fear, ῥῖγ-ος cold.

9. ιᾱ (nom. -ίᾱ): primitive, from verb-stems, as μαν-ίᾱ madness (μαίνομαι rage, μαν-). Denominative: ἡγεμον-ίᾱ sovereignty (ἡγεμών leader), εὐεργεσία kind service (εὐεργετ-ια from εὐεργέτης doer of good deeds). Without any noun-stem: πολιορκίᾱ siege (πολιορκέω besiege). Verbs in -ευω derived from substantives, as παιδεύ-ω educate (παῖς child), show abstracts in -είᾱ for ε(ῦ)-ιᾱ (43): παιδείᾱ education, στρατείᾱ campaign (στρατεύομαι take the field), βασιλείᾱ reign, kingdom (βασιλεύ-ω am king).

10. ο, α: see 859. 1, 2.

b. Many feminine substantives expressing the abstract notion of the adjective are derived from adjective stems (a few from substantive or verb stems). Many of these denominatives express quality, cp. Eng. -ness, -hood.

1. ιᾱ (nom. -ιᾰ): from adjectives in -ης and -οος, -ους, as ἀλήθεια truth for ἀληθεσ-ια from ἀληθής true; ἔνδεια want for ἐνδε(ε)σ-ια from ἐνδεής needy, 44 a, 292 d; εὔνοια kindness for εὐνο(ο)-ια from εὐνοο-ς εὔνους kind.

2. ιᾱ (nom. -ίᾱ): εὐδαιμον-ίᾱ happiness (εὐδαίμων happy), συμμαχίᾱ alliance (σύμμαχος fighting along with), σοφ-ίᾱ wisdom (σοφό-ς wise). Since τ becomes ς before ιᾱ we have ἀθανασίᾱ immortality (ἀθάνατο-ς immortal). Cp. 859. 6.

3. συνᾱ (nom. -σύνη): δικαιο-σύνη justice (δίκαιο-ς just). Abstracts in -συνη are properly fem. of adj. in -συνος, as γηθο-σύνη joy (γηθό-συνος joyful). -οσύνη by analogy in μαντ-οσύνη art of divination (μάντι-ς seer). See 865. 7.

4. τητ (nom. -της): φιλό-της, -τητος friendship (φίλο-ς friend), ἰσό-της, -τητος equality (ἴσο-ς equal), νεό-της youth (νέο-ς young), παχύ-της thickness (παχύ-ς thick).

5. αδ (nom. -άς): abstract substantives of number, as τρι-άς, -άδος triad (τρεῖς). μον-άς, -άδος unit (μόνο-ς alone, single). See also 863 b. 8.

c. Some neuter abstracts express quality: τάχ-ος speed (ταχ-ύ-ς swift), εὖρ-ος width (εὐρ-ύ-ς broad). See 840 a. 8.

d. A feminine adjective is used substantively in poet. πινυτή wisdom from πινυτό-ς wise; with recessive accent in ἔχθρᾱ enmity from ἐχθρό-ς hostile, θέρμη warmth from θερμό-ς warm.

e. Some compound adjectives in -ής yield (by analogy) abstracts in -ιᾱ not in -ειᾰ; as ἀτυχίᾱ misfortune from ἀ-τυχ-ής unfortunate. Fluctuation often occurs, as in κακοήθεια κακοηθίᾱ malignity from κακο-ήθης ill-disposed; Old Attic ἀληθείᾱ ( = Ion. ἀληθείη) for ἀλήθεια.