FORMATION OF SUBSTANTIVES

838

Some suffixes have a special significance; of these the most important are given in 839-856. But suffixes commonly used with a special function (such as to denote agency, action, instrument, etc.) are not restricted to this function. Only a few have one function, as τερο to denote comparison.

a. The instrument may be viewed as the agent, as in ῥαι-σ-τήρ hammer, lit. smasher, from ῥαί-ω smash. τρο (863. 16) may express the agent, instrument, or place. Suffixes used to denote actions or abstract ideas often make concrete words, as τροφ-ή nurture and nourishment, ἀγγελ-ίᾱ message (cp. Eng. dwelling, clothing). πορθμεῖον means ferry, ferry-boat, ferryman's fee. Words originally denoting an agent have lost that meaning, as πα-τήρ father (orig. protector), and in many cases the original force is changed.

AGENCY

a. The primary suffixes τᾱ, τηρ, τορ, τρο, ευ, denoting the agent or

1. τᾱ (nom. -τή-ς): κρι-τή-ς judge (κρί̄νω decide, κρι-), κλέπ-τη-ς thief (κλέπ- steal), ποιη-τή-ς poet, i.e. maker (ποιέ-ω make), αὐλη-τή-ς flute-pl<*> (αὐλέ-ω play the flute), μαθ-η-τή-ς pupil (μανθάνω learn, μαθ-ε-), ἱκ-έ- suppliant (ἱκ-νέ-ομαι come, ἱκ-).

2. τηρ (nom. -τήρ): δο-τήρ giver (δί-δω-μι give, δο-, δω-), σω-τήρ saviour (σῳ save).

3. τορ (nom. -τωρ): ῥή-τωρ orator (ἐρέω shall say, ἐρ-, ῥε-), εἴ-ρη-κα h<*> spoken, κτίσ-τωρ founder (κτίζω found, κτιδ-), σημάντωρ comman<*> poet. (σημαίνω give a signal, σημαν-).

4. τρο (nom. -τρό-ς): ἰ̄ᾱ-τρό-ς physician (ἰ̄ά̄-ομαι heal).

5. ευ (nom. -εύ-ς): γραφ-εύ-ς writer (γράφ-ω write), τοκ-εύ-ς father (τί<*> beget, τεκ-).

b. The primary suffixes τριδ, τριᾱ, τειρᾱ, τιδ are feminine.

1. τριδ (nom. -τρίς): αὐλη-τρίς female flute-player.

2. τριᾱ (nom. -τρια): ποιή-τρια poetess (late), ψάλ-τρια female harper (ψάλ<*> play the harp, ψαλ-).

3. τειρᾱ (nom. -τειρα from τερ-ῖα): σώ-τειρα fem. of σω-τήρ, δό-τειρα fem. δο-τήρ.

4. τιδ (nom. -τις): ἱκ-ε-τις female suppliant fem. of ἱκ-έ-της.

c. The same root or verb-stem may have different suffixes denoting the agen<*> γεν-έ-της, γεν-ε-τήρ, γεν-έ-τωρ begetter; μαθ-η-τρίς, or μαθ-ή-τρια female pup fem. of μαθ-η-τής.

d. Words in -τηρ, -τρις, -ευς are oxytone. Words in -τωρ, -τειρα, -τρια ha<*> recessive accent. Words in -της are oxytone or paroxytone.

e. See also ον (nom. -ων) 861. 18.

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. -τύ̄-ς 863 a. 17): rare, poetic and dialectic, ἐδ-η-τύ̄ς eating (poet<*> ἔδ-ω eat), βοη-τύ̄-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. τί̄-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.

RESULT OF ACTION

The result or effect of an action is expressed by the primary suffixes

1. ες (nom. -ος, neut.): γέν-ος race, family, stem γεν-εσ- (γί-γν-ομαι am born, ἐ-γεν-όμην, γεν-), τέκ-ος child, stem τεκ-εσ- (τίκτω bring forth, τεκ-), ψεῦδ-ος lie, stem ψευδ-εσ- (ψεύδ-ω deceive).

2. ματ (nom. -μα, neut.): γράμ-μα thing written (γράφ-ω write), νόη-μα thought (νοέω think), ποίη-μα poem (ποιέ-ω make), δέρ-μα hide (δέρ-ω flay), τμῆ-μα section (τέμ-νω cut, τεμ-, τμη-, 128 a).

INSTRUMENT OR MEANS OF ACTION

The instrument or means of an action is expressed by the primary suffixes

1. τρο (nom. -τρο-ν, neut.): ἄρο-τρο-ν plough (ἀρό-ω plough), λύ-τρο-ν ransom (λύ̄-ω release, λῠ̄-), σεῖ-σ-τρο-ν rattle (σεί-ω shake, 624 a), δί-δακ-τρο-ν teacher's pay (διδάσκω teach, διδαχ-), λου-τρό-ν bath (bathing-water; λού-ω wash).

2. θ-ρο (nom. -θρο-ν, neut.): κλεῖ-θρο-ν bar for closing a door (κλεί-ω shut, 832).

3. τρᾱ (nom. -τρᾱ, fem.): μάκ-τρᾱ kneading-trough (μάττω knead, μαγ-), ῥή-τρᾱ compact (ἐρέω ἐρῶ shall say, ἐρ-, ῥε-), χύ-τρᾱ pot (χέω pour, χυ-).

4. τηρ-ιο- (nom. -τηρ-ιο-ν, neut.): in a few words, as πο-τήρ-ιο-ν cup (πί̄νω drink, πο- 529); θελκ-τήρ-ιο-ν spell, charm (θέλγ-ω charm). See 858. 14.

5. ειο (rare; nom. -εῖον, neut.): τροφεῖα pay for rearing. See 863 a. 8.

6. ρο (nom. -ρό-ν, neut.): πτ-ε-ρό-ν wing (πέτ-ομαι fly).

THE PERSON CONCERNED

a. The person concerned or occupied with anything is denoted by a denominative formed by one of the following secondary suffixes:

1. ευ (nom. -εύ-ς, masc.): γραμ-ματ-εύ-ς secretary (γράμμα, -ατος anything written), ἱερ-εύ-ς priest (ἱερό-ς sacred), ἱππ-εύ-ς horseman (ἵππο-ς horse), χαλκεύ-ς coppersmith (χαλκό-ς copper).

2. τᾱ (nom. -τη-ς, masc.): ναύ-τη-ς sailor (ναῦ-ς ship), τοξό-της bowman (τόξο-ν bow), οἰκέ-της house-servant (οἶκο-ς house, 834 f), δεσμώ-τη-ς prisoner (834 h).

N.—By analogy are formed: εὐν-έτη-ς bed-fellow (εὐνή bed), following οἰκέτη-ς; ὁπλ-ί̄τη-ς heavy-armed soldier (ὅπλο-ν, ὅπλα armour) following πολί̄-τη-ς from older πόλῑ-ς; στρατι-ώτη-ς soldier (στρατιά̄ army) following δεσμώ-τη-ς. See 834 g.

b. The following secondary suffixes form feminine substantives:

1. ιᾱ (nom. -ιᾰ): corresponding to masculines in -εύ-ς, as ἱέρεια priestess for ἱερ-εῦ-ια (ἱερ-εύ-ς priest), βασίλεια queen (βασιλ-εύ-ς king). See -αινα below.

2. ιδ (nom. -ίς): φαρμακ-ίς sorceress (φάρμακο-ν charm, poison, φαρμακ-εύ-ς sorcerer), καπηλ-ίς female huckster (καπηλό-ς huckster), φυλακ-ίς female guard (φύλαξ).

3. τιδ (nom. -τις): corresponding to masculines in -τη-ς: οἰκέ-τις house-maid (οἰκέ-της), πολῖ-τις female citizen (πολί̄-της).

4. ιττᾱ, ισσᾱ (nom. -ιττα, -ισσα): from ῖα added to stems in τ or κ (112, 114), as θῆττα female serf from θητ-ῖα (θής, θητ-ός serf), Κίλισσα Cilician woman from Κιλικ-ῖα (Κίλιξ Cilician); later, by analogy, βασίλισσα queen.

5. αινᾱ (nom. -αινα) corresponding to masculines in -ων: λέ-αινα lioness (λέ-ων lion), θεράπ-αινα handmaid (θεράπ-ων attendant), Λάκ-αινα woman of Laconia (Λάκ-ων a Laconian). By analogy, in ο stems: λύκ-αινα she-wolf (λύκο-ς). -αινα stands for -αν-ῖα, -αν being a weak form of -ων (833 e, 35 b).

N.—Names of dealers in anything usually end in -πώλης, -ου; fem. -πωλις, -ιδος (πωλέω sell), as βιβλιο-πώλης bookseller (βιβλίο-ν book), σῑτο-πώλης graindealer (σῖτο-ς grain), ἀρτό-πωλις bread-woman (ἄρτο-ς bread). Cp. also καπηλίς under ιδ .

GENTILES OR PLACE NAMES

Gentiles are denominative nouns denoting belonging to or coming from a particular country, nation, or city. Gentiles are formed from proper nouns by secondary suffixes.

1. ευ (nom. -εύς, gen. -έως, masc.), ιδ (nom. -ίς, gen. ίδ-ος, fem.):

Πλαταιεύς -έως, Πλαταιΐς -ίδος a Plataean (ἡ Πλάταια); Ἐρετριεύς an Eretrian (ἡ Ἐρέτρια); Μεγαρεύς, Μεγαρίς a Megarian (τὰ Μέγαρα); Αἰολεύς Aeolian (Αἴολος, mythical ancestor of the Aeolians).

a. -ίς (-ίδος) may denote a land or a dialect: ἡ Δωρίς (γῆ) Doris; ἡ Αἰολίς (γλῶττα) the Aeolic dialect.

2. τᾱ (nom. -τη-ς, masc.), τιδ (nom. -τις, fem.): Τεγεά̄-της, Τεγεᾶ-τις of Tegea (ἡ Τεγέᾱ); Σπαρτ-ιά̄-της, Σπαρτ-ιᾶ-τις of Sparta (ἡ Σπάρτᾱ); Αἰγῑνή-της, Αἰγῑνῆ-τις of Aegina (ἡ Αἴγῑνα); Συβαρ-ί̄-της, Συβαρ-ῖ-τις Sybarite (ἡ Σύβαρις); Σικελι-ώ-της, Σικελι-ῶ-τις Siciliote (ἡ Σικελίᾱ).

a. The endings -ῑτης, -ωτης are due to analogy; see 843 a. N.

3. Other gentiles, properly adjectives, end in -ιος, -ιᾱ, as Ἀθηναῖο-ς, -αίᾱ of Athens (αἱ Ἀθῆναι), Μῑλήσ-ιο-ς for Μῑλητ-ιο-ς of Miletus (Μί̄λητος), Ὀπούντιο-ς of Opus (Ὀποῦς); (ι) κός , (ι) κά̄ , as Ἰων-ικός Ionic (Ἴων-ες Ionians); νό-ς, νή preceded by ᾱ(η), ῑ, as Σαρδι-ᾱνό-ς of Sardis (Σάρδεις), Λαμψακ-ηνό-ς of Lampsacus (Λάμψακος), Βυζαντ-ῖνο-ς Byzantine (Βυζάντιον). See 863 b. 12.

PATRONYMICS

Patronymics, or denominative proper names denoting descent from a father or ancestor, are formed from proper names of persons by means of the following suffixes:

1. δᾱ (nom. -δη-ς, masc.), δ (nom. -ς, fem.):

Stems in ᾱ shorten ᾱ to α; from such forms arose

2. αδᾱ (nom. -άδη-ς, masc.), αδ (nom. -άς, fem.):

From this type arose a new formation:

3. ιαδᾱ (nom. -ιάδη-ς, masc.), ιαδ (nom. -ιάς, fem.):

4. ιδᾱ (nom. -ίδη-ς, masc.), ·ιδ (nom. -ίς, fem.):

Stems in ο drop ο; stems in ευ (ηυ) drop υ; stems in οι (ωι) drop ι.

5. ῑον or ῐων (poetic and rare; nom. -ί̄ων, masc.):

Κρον-ί̄ων son of Cronus (also Κρον-ίδη-ς), gen. Κρον-ί̄ον-ος or Κρον-ί̆ων-ος according to the metre, from Κρόνο-ς.

6. ιωνᾱ or ῑνᾱ (poetic and rare; nom. -ιώνη or ί̄νη, fem.):

846

Variations occur especially in poetry: a. Hom. Πηλε-ίδη-ς, Πηλε-ΐδη-ς, Πηλη-ϊάδη-ς, and Πηλε-ΐων, son of Πηλεύ-ς; Ἀτρε-ίδη-ς, Ἀτρε-ΐδη-ς, and Ἀτρε-ΐων, son of Ἀτρεύ-ς.

b. Two patronymic endings: Ταλα-ϊ̄ον-ίδη-ς son of Ταλαό-ς.

c. The stem drops or adds a syllable: Δευκαλ-ίδη-ς son of Δευκαλίων, -ίων-ος; Λαμπ-ετ-ίδη-ς son of Λάμπο-ς.

d. -ιδης is used in comic formations: κλεπτ-ίδη-ς son of a thief.

e. -νδᾱς occurs in the dialects, as Ἐπαμεινώνδᾱ-ς Epaminondas.

f. -ιος, -ειος, may indicate descent, as Τελαμώνιε παῖ oh son of Telamon, Τυνδαρείᾱ θυγάτηρ daughter of Tyndareus; cp. Tennyson's “Niobean daughter.”

847

A patronymic may include the father, as Πεισιστρατ ίδαι the Peisistratidae (Peisistratus and his sons).

848

Most genuine patronymics are poetical and belong to the older language. In the classical period patrony mics rarely indicate descent in the case of historical persons; as Εὐρῑπίδης, Ἀριστείδης.

849

Metronymics denote descent from the mother, as Δᾱνα-ΐδη-ς son of Δᾰνάη, Φῑλυρ-ίδη-ς son of Φῐλύρᾱ.

850

Relationship is sometimes denoted by the suffixes ιδεο (nom. -ιδοῦ-ς son of) and ιδεᾱ (nom. -ιδῆ daughter of); as ἀδελφ-ιδοῦ-ς nephew, ἀδελφ-ιδῆ niece (ἀδελφό-ς brother).