Questions tagged [word-formation]

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4 votes
0 answers
58 views

Is there a semantic difference between -icus and -alis?

As far as I know both suffixes can be used to create an adjective from a noun. e.g. numericus and numeralis (and even numericalis!) Is there a semantic difference between them, a preferred suffix for ...
  • 563
6 votes
0 answers
96 views

Principles of forming epic poem titles from words

Could someone point me to a reliable source towards how are the -ας/-ις/etc. suffixes are applied to form the titles of epic poems? For example, why Ίλιον > Ἰλιάς but Ἀχιλλεύς > Ἀχιλληΐς, and ...
3 votes
1 answer
110 views

Are "ἑκάτερος" and "ἕκαστος" different degrees of the same adjective?

ἕκαστος (hekastos) means "each of many"; ἑκάτερος (hekateros) means "each of two." These forms look (respectively) like the superlative and comparative degree of the same word *...
  • 37.8k
3 votes
1 answer
165 views

What is the -ē form in “Latīnē loquor”?

To say you speak in Latin or in Greek, you say “Latīne” or “Graecē”. What is that -ē form? I cannot figure it out from any declension table I am aware of. Does the same -ē ending work for any other ...
  • 371
9 votes
1 answer
845 views

In what way is Odysseus διογενής?

In the Odyssey, Odysseus is sometimes addressed as διογενής "Zeus-born". For example, 11.60: διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχαν' Ὀδυσσεῦ O Zeus-born son of Laërtes, Odysseus of many tricks… ...
  • 57.9k
3 votes
0 answers
62 views

Does a general rule for forming Locative Singular exist?

If I understood right the Locative is mostly to be formed in singular (e.g. domi, ruri, ...). Some websites say that we just use the same form as the genitive, some websites say that we use the ...
  • 596
2 votes
1 answer
123 views

How is the (rare) Locative Plural formed?

If I understood right the Locative is only to be formed in singular (e.g. domi, ruri, ...). But when it comes to words (especially cities / small islands) that only exist in Plural (e.g. Athenae) we ...
  • 596
7 votes
1 answer
165 views

Are there unprefixed location verbs in Latin?

Two basic types of prefixed denominal locative verbs can be distinguished in Latin: the ones in (1) can be said to “agglutinate” a prepositional phrase expressing (dis)location, i.e., the place (cf. ...
  • 6,810
8 votes
2 answers
205 views

Why vowel lengthening in Greek compounds?

In Greek compounds, when the second member of the compounds begins with a short vowel, this vowel is often lengthened: στρατ-ηγός < ἄγω ἀν-ώνυμος < ὄνομα ἡμι-ώβολον < ὀβολός What is ...
  • 29.8k