Neuter gender

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.

Many neuter words are used in apposition to a sentence or clause, which they usually precede. Such are ἀμφότερον, ἀμφότερα both, τὸ δεινότατον the most dreadful thing, δυοῖν θᾱ́τερον or θᾱ́τερα one or the other, τὸ ἐναντίον the contrary, τὸ κεφάλαιον the chief point, τὸ λεγόμενον as the saying is, οὐδέτερον neither thing, σημεῖον δέ sign, τεκμήριον δέ evidence, τὸ τελευταῖον the last thing, τὸ τῆς παροιμίᾱς as the proverb runs, αὐτὸ τοῦτο this very thing, ταὐτὸ τοῦτο this same thing. Thus, τους ἀμφότερα ταῦτα, καὶ εὔνους τῇ πόλει καὶ πλουσίους those who are both loyal to the State and rich D. 18.171, εἶπεν ὅτι δεῖ δυοῖν θᾱ́τερον, ἢ κείνους ἐν Ολύνθῳ μὴ οἰκεῖν ἢ αὑτὸν ἐν Μακεδονίᾳ he said that one of two things was necessary—either that they should not live at Olynthus or he himself in Macedon 9. 11, τὸ δὲ μέγιστον, πόλεμον ἀντ᾽ εἰρήνης ἔχοντες and what is worst of all, having war instead of peace T. 2.65, ἀλλ᾽ ἦ, τὸ λεγόμενον, κατόπιν ἑορτῆς ἥκομεν; but have we come ‘after a feast’ as the maying is? P. G. 447a, τοῦτο αὐτὸ τὸ τοῦ Ὁμήρον in these very words of Homer P. A. 34d.

The neuter plural is often used even in reference to a single idea or thought in order to represent it in its entirety or in its details, as τὰ ἀληθῆ the truth. This is very common with neuter pronouns: ἐχειρονόμουν δέ· ταῦτα γὰρ ἠπιστάμην but I waved my arms, for I knew how to do this X. S. 2. 19, διὰ ταχέων quickly P. A. 32d.

a. Thucydides is fond of the neuter plural of verbal adjectives used impersonally: ἐψηφίσαντο πολεμητέα εἶναι they voted that it was necessary to make war T. 1.88, ἀδύνατα ἦν it was impossible 4. 1. Cp. 1052.

The article has the power to make substantival any word or words to which it is prefixed.

a. Adjectives: ὁ σοφός the wise man, τὸ δίκαιον justice.

b. Participles (with indefinite force): ὁ βουλόμενος whoever wills, the first that offers. Cp. 1124.

N. 1.—Such participial nouns appear in active, middle, and passive forms, and admit the distinctions of tense: οἱ ἐθελήσοντες μένειν those who shall be willing to remain X. H. 7.5.24.

N. 2.—Thucydides often substantivizes the neuter participle to form abstract expressions: τῆς πόλεως τὸ τῑμώμενον the dignity of the State 2. 63. Such participial nouns denote an action regulated by time and circumstance. Contrast τὸ δεδιός fear (in actual operation) 1. 36 with τὸ δέος (simply fear in the abstract).

c. Preposition and case: οἱ ἐπὶ τῶν πρᾱγμάτων those in power, the government D. 18.247, οἱ ἐν τῇ ἡλικίᾳ those in the prime of life T. 6.24.

d. With the genitive, forming a noun-phrase (1299): τὰ τῶν στρατιωτῶν the condition of the soldiers X. A. 3.1.20, τὰ τῆς ὀργῆς the outbursts of wrath T. 2.60.

e. Adverbs: οἵ τ᾽ ἔνδον συνελαμβάνοντο καὶ οἱ ἐκτὸς κατεκόπησαν those who were inside were arrested and those outside were cut down X. A. 2.5.32. Similarly οἱ τότε the men of that time, οἱ ἐκεῖ the dead, οἱ πάλαι the ancients.

N.—An adverb preceded by the article may be used like an adjective: ὁ ὀρθῶς κυβερνήτης the good pilot P. R. 341c. The article is rarely omitted.

f. Infinitives: καλοῦσί γε ἀκολασίᾱν τὸ ὑπὸ τῶν ἡδονῶν ἄρχεσθαι they call intemperance being ruled by one's pleasures P. Ph. 68e.

g. Any single word or clause: τὸ ῡ̔μεῖς ὅταν λέγω, τὴν πόλιν λέγω when I say You, I mean the State D. 18.88, ὑπερβᾱ̀ς τὸ δίκᾱς ὑπεχέτω τοῦ φόνου omitting (the words) ‘let him submit to judgment for the murder’ D. 23.220.

A predicate adjective is neuter singular when the subject is an infinitive, a sentence, or a general thought: ἡδὺ πολλοὺς ἐχθροὺς ἔχειν ; is it pleasant to have many enemies? D. 19.221, δῆλον δ᾽ ὅτι ταῦτ᾽ ἐστὶν ἀληθῆ it is clear that these things are true 2. 19.

A predicate adjective referring to a masculine or feminine singular subject is often neuter singular and equivalent to a substantive. This occurs chiefly in statements of a general truth, where the subject refers to a whole class, not to an individual thing. Thus, καλὸν εἰρήνη peace is a fine thing D. 19.336, ἄπιστον ταῖς πολῑ- τείαις ἡ τυραννίς despotism is an object of mistrust to free states 1. 5, μεῖζον πόλις ἑνὸς ἀνδρός the state is larger than the individual P. R. 368e. So also in the plural (1056).

A predicate adjective is often used in the neuter plural (especially with verbal adjectives in -τός and -τέος in Thucydides and the poets): ἐπειδὴ ἑτοῖμα ἦν, ἀνήγετο when (all) was ready, he put out to sea T. 2.56, ἀδύνατα ἦν τοὺς Λοκροὺς ἀμῡ́νεσθαι it was impossible to resist the Locrians 4. 1, ἐδόκει ἐπιχειρητέα εἶναι they decided to make the attempt 2. 3. Cp. 1003 a.