A Handbook of the English LanguageFIRST CLa.s.s.
_Words wherein the Latin plural is the same as the Latin singular._
(a) _Sing._ _Plur._ | (b) _Sing._ _Plur._ Apparatus apparat-us | Caries cari-es Hiatus hiat-us | Congeries congeri-es Impetus impet-us | Series seri-es | Species speci-es | Superficies superfici-es.
SECOND CLa.s.s.
_Words wherein the Latin plural is formed from the Latin singular by changing the last syllable._
(a).--_Where the singular termination -a is changed in the plural into -ae_:--
_Sing._ _Plur._ | _Sing._ _Plur._ Formul-a formul-ae | Nebul-a nebul-ae Lamin-a lamin-ae | Scori-a scori-ae.
Larv-a larv-ae |
(b).--_Where the singular termination -us is changed in the plural into -i_:--
_Sing._ _Plur._ | _Sing._ _Plur._ Calcul-us calcul-i | Polyp-us polyp-i Coloss-us coloss-i | Radi-us radi-i Convolvul-us convolvul-i | Ranuncul-us ranuncul-i Foc-us foc-i | Sarcophag-us sarcophag-i Geni-us geni-i | Schirr-us schirrh-i Mag-us mag-i | Stimul-us stimul-i Nautil-us nautil-i | Tumul-us tumul-i.
sophag-us sophag-i |
(c).--_Where the singular termination -um is changed in the plural into -a_:--
_Sing._ _Plur._ | _Sing._ _Plur._ Animalcul-um animalcul-a | Mausole-um mausole-a Arcan-um arcan-a | Medi-um medi-a Collyri-um collyri-a | Memorand-um memorand-a Dat-um dat-a | Menstru-um menstru-a Desiderat-um desiderat-a | Moment-um moment-a Effluvi-um effluvi-a | Premi-um premi-a Empori-um empori-a | Scholi-um scholi-a Encomi-um encomi-a | Spectr-um spectr-a Errat-um errat-a | Specul-um specul-a Gymnasi-um gymnasi-a | Strat-um strat-a Lixivi-um lixivi-a | Succedane-um succedane-a.
l.u.s.tr-um l.u.s.tr-a |
(d).--_Where the singular termination -is is changed in the plural into -es_:--
_Sing._ _Plur._ | _Sing._ _Plur._ Amanuens-is amanuens-es | Ellips-is ellips-es a.n.a.lys-is a.n.a.lys-es | Emphas-is emphas-es Ant.i.thes-is ant.i.thes-es | Hypothes-is hypothes-es Ax-is ax-es | Oas-is oas-es Bas-is bas-es | Parenthes-is parenthes-es Cris-is cris-es | Synthes-is synthes-es Diaeres-is diaeres-es | Thes-is thes-es.
THIRD CLa.s.s.
_Words wherein the plural is formed by inserting -e between the last two sounds of the singular, so that the former number always contains a syllable more than the latter:--_
_Sing._ _Plur._ Apex _sounded_ apec-s apices Appendix -- appendic-s appendices Calix -- calic-s calices Cicatrix -- cicatric-s cicatrices Helix -- helic-s helices Index -- indec-s indices Radix -- radic-s radices Vertex -- vertec-s vertices Vortex -- vortec-s vortices.
In all these words the c of the singular number is sounded as k; of the plural, as s.
-- 82. The following is a list of the chief Greek substantives lately introduced, and preserving the _Greek_ plural forms--
FIRST CLa.s.s.
_Words where the singular termination -on is changed in the plural into -a_:--
_Sing._ _Plur._ _Sing._ _Plur._ Apheli-on apheli-a Criteri-on criteri-a Periheli-on periheli-a Ephemer-on ephemer-a Automat-on automat-a Phaenomen-on phaenomen-a.
SECOND CLa.s.s.
_Words where the plural is formed from the original root by adding either -es or -a, but where the singular rejects the last letter of the original root._
_Plurals in_ -es:--
_Original root._ _Plur._ _Sing._
Apsid- apsid-es apsis Cantharid- cantharid-es cantharis Chrysalid- chrysalid-es chrysalis Ephemerid- ephemerid-es ephemeris Tripod- tripod-es tripos.
_Plurals in_ -a:--
_Original root._ _Plur._ _Sing._
Dogmat- dogmat-a dogma Lemmat- lemmat-a lemma Miasmat- miasmat-a miasma.[34]
-- 83. _Miscellaneous elements._--Of miscellaneous elements we have two sorts; those that are incorporated in our language, and are currently understood (e.g., the Spanish word _sherry_, the Arabic word _alkali_, and the Persian word _turban_), and those that, even amongst the educated, are considered strangers. Of this latter kind (amongst many others) are the oriental words _hummum_, _kaftan_, _gul_, &c.
Of the currently understood miscellaneous elements of the English language, the most important are from the French; some of which agree with those of the Latin of the fourth period, and the Greek, in preserving the _French_ plural forms--as _beau_, _beaux_, _billets-doux_.
_Italian._--Some words of Italian origin do the same; as _virtuoso_, _virtuosi_.
_Hebrew._--The Hebrew words, _cherub_ and _seraph_ do the same; the form _cherub-im_, and _seraph-im_ being not only plurals but Hebrew plurals.
Beyond the words derived from these five languages, none form their plural other than after the English method, i.e., in -s, as _waltzes_, from the _German_ word _waltz_.
-- 84. Hence we have a measure of the extent to which a language, which, like the English, at one and the same time requires names for many objects, comes in contact with the tongues of half the world, and has moreover, a great power of incorporating foreign elements, derives fresh words from varied sources; as may be seen from the following incomplete notice of the languages which have, in different degrees, supplied it with new terms.
_Arabic._--Admiral, alchemist, alchemy, alcohol, alcove, alembic, algebra, alkali, a.s.sa.s.sin.
_Persian._--Turban, caravan, dervise, &c.
_Turkish._--Coffee, bashaw, divan, scimitar, janisary, &c.
_Hindoo languages._--Calico, chintz, cowrie, curry, lac, muslin, toddy, &c.
_Chinese._--Tea, bohea, congou, hyson, soy, nankin &c.
_Malay._--Bantam (fowl), gamboge, rattan, sago, shaddock, &c.
_Polynesian._--Taboo, tattoo.
_Tungusian or some similar Siberian language._--Mammoth, the bones of which are chiefly from the banks of the Lena.
_North American Indian._--Squaw, wigwam, pemmican.
_Peruvian._--Charki = prepared meat; whence _jerked_ beef.
_Caribbean._--Hammock.
-- 85. A distinction is drawn between the _direct_ and _indirect_, the latter leading to the _ultimate origin_ of words.
Thus a word borrowed into the English from the French, might have been borrowed into the French from the Latin, into the Latin from the Greek, into the Greek from the Persian, &c., and so _ad infinitum_.
The investigation of this is a matter of literary curiosity rather than any important branch of philology.