Consonant Declension Adjectives

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145. Some nouns of classes already described were originally adjectives and continued to be used as such, masculine and feminine alike (neuter, too, when there is one) of one ending:

φυγάς φυγάδ-ος

exiled
(like ἐλπίς, §​​​ 114)

γυμνής γυμνῆτ-ος light-armed
πένης πένητ-ος poor

With these belong some other adjectives, as

μάκαρ μάκαρ-ος blessed (cp. §​​​ 102)
ἅρπαξ ἅρπαγ-ος unknown (cp. §​​​ 109)
ἀγνώς ἀγνῶτ-ος poor (cp. §​​​ 112)
ἄπαις ἄπαιδ-ος childless (cp. §​​​ 114)

146. Many adjectives are of two endings; the neuter differs from the masculine in the nominative and accusative only. Here are many adjectives compounded οf nouns of this declension.

Nominative Genitive  
M. / F. N. M. / F. / N.
εὔελπις εὔ-ελπι εὐέλπιδ-ος of good hope
ἄχαρις ἄχαρι ἀχάριτ-ος lacking grace
εὐδαίμων εὔδαιμον εὐδαίμον-ος fortunate
εὐήθης εὔηθες εὐήθους simple-minded

Here belong also comparative adjectives in -ων (stem in -ον): βελτῑ́ων (better).

147. Greek Adjectives of Two Endings

Goodell: Consonant Declension Adjectives of Two Endings Chart

148. The accent is recessive. Stems in -ιτ and -ιδ follow the rule in §​​​ 115. For ἄχαρι see §​​​ 40.

Suggested Citation

Meagan Ayer, ed. Goodell’s School Grammar of Attic Greek. Carlisle, Pennsylvania: Dickinson College Commentaries, 2018. ISBN: 978-1-947822-10-8.https://dcc.dickinson.edu/grammar/goodell/consonant-declension-adjectives