caecus, a um related to caeco

Latin Learning Latin
1

I notices that Caecus a um a first class adjective (has endings of the first/second declension) the verb caeco caecare is a first conjugation verb. Does this hold true for other adjectives? For example could I talk the word celeres and assume that because it has a third declension ending that the verb is third conjugation. Is there a hard and fast rule for identifying the conjugation of a noun or an adjetive related to a verb.

For example rex regis is third declension and rego regere rexi rectum is also third conjugation. I need help I am working on the language. Let me say that I am not trying to confuse my delcensions and my conjugations I am merely looking for a correlation between the two.

2

I don’t know, that’s an interesting question, though,.

3

I’m venturing that it’s simply coincidence…either that or there are enough exceptions to prevent you from using it as a rule:

To delight: delectare - 1st conj.
Delightful: delectabilis, -is, -e - 3rd dec.

To catch fire: ignescere - 3rd conj.
To be on fire: igneus, -a, -um - 1st/2nd dec.

To swim: natare - 1st conj.
Swimming: natans, -antis - 3rd dec., sing. ending

Note that like the last example, most verbs only have derived participles for adjectival usage.

Chris

4

I agree with Chris; it’s a simple coincidence.

The first conjugation was the more easily used for transforming adjectives (from whatever declension) to verbs. hence:

caecus => caecare
celer => celerare (late word, only appears post-Augustan)
manifestus => manifestare (another late word)

On the other hand, be wary that some adjectives derive from verbs. Participles (eg sapiens <= sapere; maestus <= maerere) are the most obvious instance of this, but there are others:

capere => capax
audere => audax

The first conjugation was also used, in the form of frequentatives ,even to take over other conjugations. hence, dictare, factitare from dicere, facere.

The relationship between certain nouns and verbs is more complex. rex and regere are related, but they are particularly ancient words (rex is first attested in 500 BC in its archaic dative form “recei”) I am not sure of the exact nature of their relationship, that is, what derived from what.