Questions tagged [second-declension]

For questions about the second declension.

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11 votes
1 answer
1k views

Why 'Vir' is the only word of 2nd declension with -ir ending?

I'd like a detailed explanation of the word 'Vir' denclesion. Vir is the only word of the second denclension with 'ir' ending. What is the reason for this phenomenon? Anyone knows a research about it ...
7 votes
1 answer
215 views

Second declension feminine plants

Is there any reason why some well-known plant names, especially tree names, are feminine, but 2nd declension? (now interested in classical, not scientific ones). For example: Trees: aesculus alnus ...
6 votes
1 answer
499 views

In Vulgate, Matthaeus 4:23, it says "et prædicans Evangelium regni". Shouldn't it be "regno" (dative) rather than "regni" (genitive)?

In Vulgate, Matthaeus 4:23, it says "et prædicans Evangelium regni". Shouldn't it be "regno" (dative) rather than "regni" (genitive)? He was talking the gospel TO the ...
5 votes
3 answers
639 views

Why is *dōna* the plural acc. Instead of *donos* like the rest of the 2nd declensions?

I am currently studying the declensions for nouns (currently on the 2nd one) and saw this difference. amīcōs, fīliōs, agrōs VS dōna
5 votes
1 answer
226 views

How did vulgus get its ending?

Vulgus "crowd, mob, common people" is a neuter second-declension noun. But unlike most second-declension neuters, it ends in -us, like a masculine. How did this happen? Is there an etymological ...
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7 votes
2 answers
220 views

What categories of substantives of the second declension are feminine?

Some categories of substantive nouns are always feminine, even when they are of the second declension, such as trees. What other categories are there? And are there also many exocategorical examples? ...
  • 19.3k
10 votes
3 answers
807 views

Forms of 2nd Declension Neuter Nouns ending in -ium

The 2nd Declension Neuter endings are: Singular Nom: -um Gen: -ī Dat: -ō Acc: -um Abl: -ō Plural Nom: -a Gen: -ōrum Dat: -īs Acc: -a Abl: -īs With a word such as auxilium (meaning help, aid), which ...
  • 2,073
13 votes
1 answer
552 views

Wordplay with "Vox Populi" (populus, m vs. populus, f)

Say I want to mock up the idiom "Vox Populi" using not "populus" (m, people) but "populus" (f, poplar tree). Meaning something like "the sound of the poplar leaves rustling". Do I have a way to ...
8 votes
2 answers
665 views

What is the plural of virus, vulgus and pelagus?

There are three neuters in the second declension ending in -us: virus, vulgus and pelagus. (See this previous question for origin and listing of such words.) My grammar tells me that these words are ...
14 votes
1 answer
859 views

Are there any other neuter words of the second declension that end on -us than "virus"?

Virus is a neuter word of the second declension even though it ends on -us, as evidenced by its genitive on -i (it has no plural). Are there any other such words? Bonus question: is it possible that ...
  • 19.3k