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496. Masculine dual forms used generically for the feminine.

The use of the forms “τώ, τοῖν, τούτω, τούτοιν, αὐτώ, αὐτοῖν, τώδε”, and the like, with feminine substantives is no exception to the rule, as these forms are common to all the genders, though there are also special feminine forms, which are preferably used in the genitive and dative.1 In like manner, the masculine dual forms of descriptive adjectives and of participles are sometimes used generically for the feminine.2

“ ἐρείσατ᾽, ὦ παῖ, πλευρὸν ἀμφιδέξιον
ἐμφύντε ῾σξ. αντιγονε ανδ ισμενἐτῷ φύσαντι,
”

. “ἀθανάτων μετὰ φῦλον ἴτον προλιπόντ᾽ ἀνθρώπους” | “Αἰδὼς καὶ Νέμεσις”, HES. O. et D. 199-200.

1 See Ernst Hasse, Der Dualis im Attischen, Hannover und Leipzig, 1893, p. 19.

2 See Keck, p. 37 infra and p. 38 supra; also Hasse, l.c., pp. 26.36, and 37, where, however, no instance of a feminine simple adjective in “οιν” or of a feminine participle in “οιν” is cited.

Syntax of Classical Greek from Homer to Demosthenes. Basil L. Gildersleeve. New York. American Book Company. 1900.

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