Quality

Gender of Sexless Objects.—The gender of most nouns denoting sexless objects has to be learned by the endings (211, 228, 255) and by observation. The following general rules should be noted.

a. Masculine are the names of winds, months, and most rivers. Thus, ὁ Βορέᾱς the North Wind, ὁ Ἑκατομβαιών Hecatombaeon, ὁ Κηφισσός Cephissus.

N.—The gender of these proper names is made to correspond to ὁ ἄνεμος wind, ὁ μήν month, ὁ ποταμός river. In the case of winds and rivers the gender may be due in part to personification.

b. Feminine are the names of almost all countries, islands, cities, trees, and plants. Thus, ἡ Ἀττική Attica, ἡ Δῆλος Delos, ἡ Κόρινθος Corinth, ἡ πίτυς pine, ἡ ἄμπελος vine. The gender here follows that of ἡ γῆ or ἡ χώρᾱ land, country, ἡ νῆσος island, ἡ πόλις city, ἡ δρῦς, originally tree in general, but later oak (τὸ δένδρον is the ordinary word for tree).

c. Feminine are most abstract words, that is, words denoting a quality or a condition. Thus, ἡ ἀρετή virtue, ἡ εὔνοια good-will, ἡ ταχύτης swiftness, ἡ ἐλπίς hope.

d. Neuter are diminutives (197 b), words and expressions quoted, letters of the alphabet, infinitives, and indeclinable nouns. Thus, τὸ ῡ̔μεῖς the word ‘you,’ τὸ γνῶθι σεαυτόν the saying ‘learn to know thyself,’ τὸ ἄλφα alpha, τὸ παιδεύειν to educate, τὸ χρεών necessity.

N.—But some names of women end in -ιον (197 b): ἡ Γλυκέριον Glycerium.

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.

The following are the chief adjectival suffixes:

1. ο, ᾱ (nom. -ο-ς, -η or -ᾱ, -ο-ν): primary: λοιπ-ό-ς remaining (λείπ-ω leave, λιπ-, λειπ-, λοιπ-), λευκ-ό-ς bright (λεύσσω shine, λευκ-ῖω).

2. ιο, ιᾱ: a common suffix expressing that which pertains or belongs in any way to a person or thing. By union with a preceding stem vowel we have αιο, ειο, οιο, ῳο, υιο.

Primary (rare): ἅγ-ιο-ς sacred (ἅγος expiation); with a comparative force: ἄλλος other (ἀλ-ῖο-ς alius), μέσος middle (μεθ-ῖο-ς medius, 113).

Secondary in τῑ́μ-ιο-ς worthy, costly (τῑμή honour); φίλ-ιο-ς friendly (φίλο-ς dear); ὄρθ-ιο-ς steep (ὀρθό-ς straight); πλούσ-ιο-ς rich (πλοῦτο-ς riches, 115); δίκα-ιο-ς just (δίκ-η right, 834 b); οἰκε-ῖο-ς domestic (οἶκο-ς house, 834 f); πάτρ-ιο-ς hereditary (πατήρ father, πατρ-, 262); βασίλειο-ς royal (βασιλεύ-ς king); θέρε-ιο-ς of summer (θέρος, stem θερεσ-); αἰδο-ῖο-ς venerable (αἰδώς shame, stem αἰδοσ-, 266); ἡρῷος heroic (ἥρως hero, ἡρωϝ-, 267); πήχυ-ιο-ς a cubit long (πῆχυ-ς, 268). The feminines are often abstract substantives, as φιλ-ίᾱ friendship.

a. The ending -αῖος has been transferred from ᾱ stems, as in χερσ-αῖο-ς of or from dry land (χέρσ-ος). The form ι-αῖος occurs: δραχμ-ιαῖο-ς worth a drachma (δραχμή). -εῖος has become independent in ἀνδρ-εῖος manly (ἀνήρ). On gentiles in -ιος, see 844. 3.

b. Ionic η-ϊο (nom. -ηϊος), properly from stems in ευ (ηυ), as Hom. χαλκή-ϊο-ς brazen (pertaining to a χαλκεύ-ς brazier; Attic χάλκεος, -οῦς, see 858. 4), βασιλή-ϊο-ς royal; and transferred in Ionic to other stems, as in πολεμήϊο-ς warlike, ἀνθρωπ-ήϊο-ς human (Attic ἀνθρώπειο-ς), ἀνδρ-ήϊο-ς manly.

3. εντ for ϝεντ (nom. -εις) forms denominative adjectives denoting fulness or abundance (mostly poetic).

τῑμή-εις (τῑμῆς) honoured, and by analogy δενδρ-ήεις woody (δένδρο-ν tree); χαρί-εις graceful (χάρι-ς), δολό-εις wily (δόλο-ς), and by analogy αἱματ-ό-εις bloody (αἷμα, -ατ-ος blood, 834 j), ἰχθυ-ό-εις full of fish, κρυ-ό-εις chilling (κρύ-ος chill). Also in εὐρώ-εις mouldy (εὐρώς, -ῶτος).

4. εο (nom. -εο-ς, -οῦς, 290) forms denominative adjectives denoting material: χρῡ́σεος, χρῡσοῦς golden (χρῡσό-ς gold).

a. εο is derived from ε-ῖο, seen in χρῡ́σειος (poetic). Here ε is part of the stem (834 f). On -ηϊος see 858. 2 b.

5. ες (nom. -ής, -ές): primitive: ψευδ-ής false (ψεύδ-ω deceive), σαφ-ής clear, πρην-ής prone, ὑγι-ής healthy. Very common in compounds, as ἀ-σφαλ-ής unharmed, secure (ἀ-priv. + σφαλ- in σφάλλω trip).

6. κο, ακο, ικο (nom. -κος, very common, cp. 864. 1): many denominatives formed by these suffixes denote relation, many others fitness or ability.

a. Denominatives: μαντι-κό-ς prophetic (μάντι-ς prophet); φυσι-κό-ς natural (φύσι-ς nature); θηλυ-κό-ς feminine (θῆλυ-ς female); Δᾱρει-κό-ς Daric (Δᾱρεῖο-ς Darius).

b. From φυσι-κό ς, etc., ικο was taken as an independent suffix in μουσ-ικό-ς musical (μοῦσα muse); βαρβαρ-ικό-ς barbaric (βάρβαρο-ς barbarian, foreigner); διδασκαλ-ικό-ς able to teach (διδάσκαλο-ς teacher); μαθηματικό-ς fond of learning (μάθημα, -ματος thing learnt); Κεραμε-ικό-ς Potters' quarter, Ceramīcus (κεραμεύ-ς potter); βασιλ-ικό-ς royal (βασιλεύ-ς king); ἡρω-ϊκό-ς heroic, from ἥρω(ϝ), -ος hero; Ἀχαι-ικό-ς or Ἀχᾱ-ικό-ς (38) Achaean (Ἀχαιό-ς Achaean).

N.—ἀρχ-ικό-ς able to rule (ἀρχ-ή), γραφ-ικό-ς able to write or draw (γραφ-ή), need not be derived directly from the root.

c. Κορινθι-ακό-ς Corinthian (Κορίνθ-ιο-ς Corinthian); σπονδει-ακό-ς consisting of spondees (σπονδ-εῖο-ς spondee).

d. τ-ικό represents ικό added to the verbal in τό- (cp. also μαθηματ-ικό-ς). Thus, λεκ-τικό-ς suited to speaking (λέγ-ω speak); αἰσθη-τικό-ς capable of feeling (αἰσθ-άνομαι feel); ἀριθμη-τικό-ς skilled in numbering (ἀριθμέω to number); πρᾱκ-τικό-ς practical, able to do (πρᾱ́ττω do); σκεπτικό-ς reflective (σκέπ-τ-ομαι look carefully, consider). Added to a noun-stem: ναυ-τικό-ς nautical (ναῦ-ς ship).

7. λο (nom. -λο-ς): primary (usually active) and secondary. Cp. 860. 1. Primary in δει-λό-ς cowardly (δέδοι-κα fear, δι-, δει-, δοι-); στρεβ-λό-ς twisted (στρέφ-ω turn); τυφ-λό-ς blind (τῡ́φ-ω raise a smoke); κοῖλος hollow ( = κοϝ-ιλο-ς, Lat. cav-us); τροχ-αλό-ς running (τρέχ-ω run); εἴκ-ελο-ς like (ἔοικα am like, εἰκ-); καμπ-ύλο-ς bent (κάμπ-τ-ω bend); φειδ-ωλό-ς sparing (φείδ-ομαι spare). ἀπατ-η-λός deceitful (ἀπάτη deceit, ἀπατά-ω deceive) may be a primitive or a denominative. Cp. 860. 1.

α-λεο denoting quality in ἁρπ-αλέο-ς attractive, ravishing (ἁρπάζω seize), θαρσ-αλέο-ς bold (θάρσ-ος boldness).

8. μο (nom. -μο-ς, 861. 1): primary: θερ-μό-ς warm (θέρ-ω warm); secondary in ἕβδ-ο-μο-ς seventh.

9. ι-μο, σ-ιμο (nom. -ιμο-ς, -σιμο-ς): often denoting able to or fit to. Adjectives in ιμο are primitive or denominative, and are derived from ι-stems; those in -σιμο are denominative and come mostly from stems in σι + μο (as χρή-σι-μο-ς useful, from χρῆ-σι-ς use); but σιμο has thence been abstracted as an independent suffix.

δόκ-ιμο-ς approved (δοκ-έ-ω seem good); μάχ-ιμο-ς warlike (μάχη battle); νόμ-ιμο-ς conformable to law (νόμο-ς); ἐͅδ-ώδ-ιμο-ς eatable (ἐδ-ωδ-ή food, poet. ἔδ-ω eat); καύσι-μο-ς combustible (κᾱ́ω burn, καῦ-σι-ς burn- ing); λύσι-μο-ς able to loose (λύ-σι-ς loosing); ἱππά-σιμο-ς fit for riding (ἱππάζομαι ride); ἁλώ-σιμο-ς easy to take (ἁλίσκομαι, ἑᾱ́λων).

10. μον (nom. -μων, -μον): primary in μνή-μων mindful (μι-μνῄ-σκομαι remember), τλή-μων enduring, wretched (ἔ-τλη-ν endured). Cp. 861. 8.

11. νο (nom. -νο-ς, 861. 11): primary (usually passive) and secondary (829 a). Sometimes denoting that which may, can, or must be done.

Primary in δει-νό-ς fearful (δέ-δοι-κα fear, δι-, δει-, δοι-); σεμ-νό-ς to be revered (σέβ-ομαι revere); πιθ-ανό-ς persuasive (πείθ-ω persuade, πιθ-, πειθ-, ποιθ-); πίσ-υνο-ς trusting (πείθ-ω). Secondary in σκοτει-νό-ς dark ( = σκοτεσ-νο-ς from σκότ-ος darkness).

12. ινο (nom. -ινο-ς, 861. 11): forms denominative adjectives of material, as λίθ-ινο-ς of stone (λίθο-ς), ξύλ-ινο-ς wooden (ξύλο-ν); to denote time, and derived from such forms as ἐαρι-νό-ς vernal (ἔαρ spring), as in ἡμερ-ινό-ς by day (ἡμέρᾱ), χθεσ-ινό-ς of yesterday (χθές); other uses: ἀνθρώπ-ινο-ς human (ἄνθρωπο-ς man), ἀληθ-ινό-ς genuine (ἀληθής true).

ινεο in λα-ΐνεο-ς = λά-ϊνο-ς stony (λᾶς stone). On -ηνος, -ῑνος in gentiles, see 844. 3.

13. ρο, ρᾱ (nom. -ρό-ς, -ρᾱ́): primary, and secondary. Primary, in ἐχθ-ρό-ς hated, hostile (ἔχθ-ω hate), λαμπ-ρό-ς shining (λάμπ-ω shine), χαλα-ρό-ς slack (χαλά-ω slacken). Secondary, in φοβε-ρό-ς fearful (φόβο-ς fear, φοβόε-, 834 f), κρατ-ερό-ς mighty (κράτ-ος might); primary or secondary in ἀνιᾱ-ρό-ς grievous (ἀνίᾱ grief, ἀνιά-ω grieve). See 860. 3.

14. τηρ-ιο (nom. -τήριο-ς): in denominatives, derived from substantives in -τηρ (or -της) by the suffix ιο; but the substantive is not always found.

σω-τήρ-ιο-ς preserving (σω-τήρ saviour), whence the abstract σωτηρίᾱ (858. 2) safety; θελκ-τήρ-ιο-ς enchanting (θελκ-τήρ charmer, θέλγ-ω enchant), whence θελκτήριον (842. 4), λυ-τήρ-ιο-ς delivering (λυ-τήρ), ὁρμητήριον starting-place (ὁρμάω, ὁρμῶμαι start).

15. υ (nom. -ύ-ς, -εῖα, -ύ): primitives are ἡδύ-ς sweet (ἥδ-ομαι am pleased), ταχ-ύ-ς swift (τάχ-ος swiftness), βαθ-ύ-ς deep (βάθ-ος depth). Cp. 859. 8.

16. ωδες (nom. -ώδης, -ῶδες): in primitives (rare), as πρεπ-ώδης proper (πρέπ-ω beseem); usually in denominatives denoting fulness or similarity: ποι-ώδης grassy (ποίᾱ), αἱματ-ώδης looking like blood (αἷμα). See 833 a.

17. Suffixes of Degree: ῑον and ιστο (318) usually form primitives; τερο and τατο (313 ff.), denominatives. τερο occurs also in πό-τερο-ς which of two? πρό-τερο-ς earlier, ὕσ-τερο-ς later, ἑκά-τερο-ς each. On the suffix τερο apparently without comparative force, see 1066, 1082 b. ἔν-τερο-ν is substantivized (bowel); from ἐν in.

18. Suffixes of Participles and Verbal Adjectives (primary): active ντ, οτ, 301 a, c; middle and passive μενο. Verbal adjectives denoting completion (usually passive) το; possibility and necessity το, τεο (471-473).

On the formation of ADVERBS, see 341 ff.

The list includes the chief suffixes used in substantives and adjectives. Separation of a suffix from the root is often arbitrary and uncertain.

The genitive to denote quality occurs chiefly as a predicate.

ἐὼν τρόπου ἡσυχίου being of a peaceful disposition Hdt. 1.107, οἱ δέ τινες τῆς αὐτῆς γνώμης ὀλίγοι κατέφυγον but some few of the same opinion fled T. 3.70, ταῦτα παμπόλλων ἐστὶ λόγων this calls for a thorough discussion P. L. 642a, θεωρήσατ᾽ αὐτόν, μὴ ὁποτέρου τοῦ λόγου, ἀλλ᾽ ὁποτέρου τοῦ βίου ἐστίν consider, not the manner of his speech, but the manner of his life Aes. 3.168, εἰ δοκεῖ ταῦτα καὶ δαπάνης μεγάλης καὶ πόνων πολλῶν καὶ πρᾱγματείᾱς εἶναι if these matters seem to involve great expense and much toil and trouble D. 8.48.

a. The attributive use occurs in poetry: χόρτων εὐδένδρων Εὐρώπᾱς Europe with its pastures amid fair trees E. I. T. 134, λευκῆς χιόνος πτέρυξ a wing white as snow (of white snow) S. Ant. 114.

The use of the genitive to express quality, corresponding to the Latin genitive, occurs in the non-predicate position, only when age or size is exactly expressed by the addition of a numeral (genitive of measure, 1325). The Latin genitive of quality in mulier mirae pulchritudinis is expressed by γυνὴ θαυμασίᾱ κάλλος (or τοῦ κάλλους), γυνὴ θαυμασίᾱ ἰδεῖν, γυνὴ ἔχουσα θαυμάσιον σχῆμα, etc.