Some Third Declesion Nouns

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Brian
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Some Third Declesion Nouns

Post by Brian »

I have noticed that some nouns (third declension it seems), have the accusative singular in "im" and not "em". For example: Tiber, the river, has an accusative singular of Tiberim. My question is this: Is there some clue in a nominative or genetive singular that would alert me to an "im" sg. acc.? Or do I have to simply commit to memory nouns of this type when I encounter them?

Thanks

Brian

ohammer
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Post by ohammer »

In most 3d declension m. and f. nouns the accusative is in - em.

The accusative in -im is found:

1. In Greek nouns and in names of rivers (the latter, of course, explaining Tiberim).

2. In the words buris, cucumis, ravis, sitis, tussis and vis.

The accusative in -im is found sometimes in febris, puppis, restis, turris, securis and sementis, as alternate forms of accusatives in -em.

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