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197. Rule of Natural Gender.—Nouns denoting male persons are masculine, nouns denoting female persons are feminine. Thus, ναύτης seaman, στρατιώτης soldier, γυνή woman, κόρη maiden.

a. A whole class is designated by the masculine: οἱ ἄνθρωποι men, i.e. men and women.

b. EXCEPTIONS TO THE RULE OF NATURAL GENDER.—Diminutives in -ιον are neuter (199 d), as τὸ ἀνθρώπιον manikin ( ἄνθρωπος man), τὸ παιδίον little child (male or female, or παῖς child), τὸ γύναιον little woman ( γυνή woman). Also the words τέκνον, τέκος child (strictly ‘thing born’), ἀνδράποδον captive.

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