FORMATION OF ADJECTIVES
[*] 857. Adjectives are formed by the same suffixes as are used in substantives, the same formation producing in one case a substantive, in another an adjective. Many words formed with certain suffixes (
ιο, μο, νο, ρο, το) are used as adjectives or as abstract substantives (usually feminine or neuter). Thus
φιλία_ friendly or
friendship; so
στέφ-ανο-ς crown (
στέφ-ω encircle) was originally an adjective. Many suffixes have no characteristic signification.
Adjectives are either primitive (from roots or verb-stems) or denominative (from substantives or other adjectives). But this distinction is often obliterated and difficult to determine.
[*] 858. The following are the chief adjectival suffixes:
1.
ο, α_ (nom.
-ο-ς, -η or
-α_, -ο-ν): primary:
λοιπ-ό-ς remaining (
λείπ-ω leave,
λιπ-, λειπ-, λοιπ-),
λευκ-ό-ς bright (
λεύσσω shine,
λευκ-ῖω).
2.
ιο, ια_: 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
τί_μ-ιο-ς worthy,
costly (
τι_μή 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-ία_ friendship.
a. The ending
-αῖος has been transferred from
α_ 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).
τι_μή-εις (
τι_μῆς)
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: χρύ_σεος, χρυ_σοῦς golden (
χρυ_σό-ς gold).
a. εο is derived from
ε-ῖο, seen in
χρύ_σειος (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);
Δα_ρει-κό-ς Daric (
Δα_ρεῖο-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
Ἀχα_-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);
πρα_κ-τικό-ς practical,
able to do (
πρά_ττω 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 (
τύ_φ-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 (
κά_ω 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, ἑά_λων).
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 (
ἡμέρα_),
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, -ι_νος in gentiles, see
844. 3.
13.
ρο, ρα_ (nom.
-ρό-ς, -ρά_): 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
ἀνια_-ρό-ς grievous (
ἀνία_ 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
σωτηρία_ (
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 (
ποία_),
αἱματ-ώδης looking like blood (
αἷμα). See 833 a.
17. Suffixes of Degree:
ι_ον 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.