previous next



263. Stems in sigma are contracted where ς falls out between the vowel of the stem and the vowel of the ending (120). Thus, γένος race, gen. γενες-ος γένους, dat. γενες-ι γένει, cp. Lat. genus gener-is (for genes-is), gener-i.

a. The masculine and feminine accusative plural, when it is contracted, borrows the form of the contracted nominative plural. -εις is not derived from -εας. In the dative plural the union of ς of the stem and ς of the ending produces σς, which is reduced to ς without lengthening the preceding vowel (107).

b. Masculine stems in ες with the nominative in -ης are proper names; the feminine τριήρης trireme is an adjective used substantively (properly, triply fitted; τριήρης (ναῦς) ‘ship with three banks of oars’).

c. Neuters with stems in ες have -ος in the nominative, accusative, and vocative singular; neuters with stems in ας have -ας in these cases.

d. Some stems in ας have also a stem in ατ or α_τ (258).

hide References (1 total)
  • Cross-references to this page (1):
    • Raphael Kühner, Friedrich Blass, Ausführliche Grammatik der Griechischen Sprache, Dritte Deklination.
hide Display Preferences
Greek Display:
Arabic Display:
View by Default:
Browse Bar: