Adjectives

[Raya]

In the case of an adjective such as [face=SPIonic]a)/dikoj[/face] - which has 2 sets of endings (masc/fem and neuter) in the positive degree, and forms comparatives in [face=SPIonic]-teroj[/face] and superlatives in [face=SPIonic]-tatoj[/face] - does it retain 2 sets of endings in the comparative and superlative degrees, or does it form separate masculine, feminine and neuter forms?

[auctor]

Without prejudice: my reading of the Oxford grammar says that comps and superls are formed by adding -teros, -tera, -teron to the masculine stem. Nothing is said about masc and fem ever being the same, unlike the bald adjective. The only comment is about the preceding vowel being long or short.

I look forward to being shown otherwise

Paul McK

[auctor]

Sorry, my last post is dreadfully incomplete...
-teros, -tera, -teron are added to the masc adj stem for comparatives
and (this is the bit I flew past without mentioning)
-tatos, -tatE, -taton are added to the masc adj stem for superlatives

However the distinction between masc and fem does appear to stand.

Sorry again for the "send button before thinking"!!

[Raya]

Thanks for your reply, and yes, I'm aware that this is the general case... but neither the Oxford grammar (which I have as well) nor my textbook (H&Q) are clear on the case for adjectives with two sets of endings in the positive...

Do the feminine forms [face=SPIonic]a)dikwte/ra[/face] and [face=SPIonic]a)dikwta/th[/face] exist?
Or are [face=SPIonic]a)dikw&teroj[/face] and [face=SPIonic]a)dikw&tatoj[/face] used in both masculine and feminine circumstances?

From the information I have, I really can't tell.

[auctor]

Raya,
The handiest solution would be to find an example... LSJ isn't specific, Perseus is predictably down and I've had a (very) quick scan through Demosthenes' Prosecution of Neaira (a likely source of "most unjust female", I thought) to no avail.
However the JACT grammar book has [face=SPIonic]a)melhj & eu)frwn[/face] in its list of adjectives forming regular comparatives without further comment... maybe we can infer something from that!
I'll have a tinkle with Perseus sometime.
But... in your examples the o's would be omegas if the forms do in fact occur.

cheers for now,
Paul McK

[Raya]

Thanks again!
I wonder Smyth says anything on the subject...

in your examples the o's would be omegas if the forms do in fact occur.

Edited that - - I thought [face=SPIonic]a)/dikoj[/face] had a long iota!
(Note to self: mind the macrons!!!)

[auctor]

Please don't think that I'm reading the dictionary but...

[face=SPIonic]a)lhqhj -ej

a)lhqestath profasij

a)lupoj -on

a)lupotata[/face]

In LSJ attributed to Thucydides 1.23 and Aristophanes Lysistrata 169.9 respectively.
That seems to confirm our thoughts (or hopes!).

cheers

[Raya]

With regard to [face=SPIonic]a)lhqhj[/face] (and, I presume, other two-ending adjectives of the consonant declension), we have an answer indeed! Thanks for that.

As for [face=SPIonic]a)lupoj[/face] (and other two-ending compound adjectives): if you know the final syllable of [face=SPIonic]a)lupotata[/face] to be a long alpha, we have our answer there as well!
But if the alpha is short, it could still be neuter plural. (I've tried looking it up in context, but I can't seem to find the word.)

Pardon me for being fussy here, for I do appreciate your help so far - but if possible I'd rather cancel all doubts on the matter.

(And, for the record, Smyth doesn't address the issue either!)

[auctor]

Xenophon, Cyropaedia book 8, chapter 7, section 11

[face=SPIonic]tau=ta de/ soi didou\j nomi/zw a)rxh\n me\n mei/zw kai\ tou)/noma th=j basilei/aj tw=| presbute/rw| katalipei=n, eu)daimoni/an de\ soi\ a)lupote/ran. (2.17)[/face]

The last word is a fem. acc. sing.
I got through to Perseus just then and found the above. Funny about Lysistrata though - I couldn't find anything suitable either.
Still you can plug away at P now and probably come up with some examples of more/most unjust women

good luck,
Paul McK

[Raya]

Well, that settles it, I believe!
It was good taking this little linguistic adventure with you... *offers handshake*

(And how fitting to find the answer in Cyropaedia, which I begin reading with my tutor on Monday!)