The first declension is a category of declension that consists of mostly feminine nouns in Ancient Greek and Latin with the defining feature of a long ā (analysed as either a part of the stem or a case-ending). In Greek grammar, it is also called the alpha declension, since its forms have the letter α, at least in the plural.
In Latin and Greek grammar, the first declension is analyzed as a thematic declension. But its lack of a Proto-Indo-Europeanthematic vowel (o or e) and of any nominative singular ending (ordinarily -s or -os) doesn't neatly place it within either of the Proto-Indo-European nominal categories, thematic and athematic. Therefore, it is assumed to be a newer formation: a suffix based on the neuter plural ending *-(e)h₂, forming a collective noun.
Latin first declension has only one set of endings for both feminine and masculine nouns.
The very small native masculine group includes only a few occupation nouns and nouns imported from the Greek masculine first declension.
agricola "farmer" ← ager, agro- "field" and root of colō "I cultivate"
poēta "poet" ← ποιητής poiētēs "one who composes" poetry
pīrāta "pirate" ← πειρᾱτής peirātēs "one who makes an attempt on" someone
aurīga "charioteer" ← aurea "horse's bridle" and agō "I do, lead, drive"
The same endings are used for the feminine gender of Latin adjectives.
Ancient Greek
Greek nouns
Greek first declension has two basic classes of feminine endings and one basic class of masculine endings, distinguished by their original nominative singular: long -ā, short -(y)ă, long -ās. But besides the nominative and accusative singular of feminines, and nominative, genitive, and vocative singular of masculines, forms are the same between subclasses.
In the Attic dialect, an ā-ē split divides each class into two subclasses: nouns with ᾱ and nouns with η. By contrast, other dialects tend to generalize the vowel one way or the other — Ionic has only ē, and Doric and Aeolic have only ā.
Greek adjectives
The feminine of first- and second-declension adjectives uses the -ā class of the first declension:
-os, -ā/ē, -on
First- and third-declension adjectives, including participles in -nt-, use the -(y)ă class. Here are examples of this class, which is complex because of sound changes involving the y (see Ancient Greek nouns: short a):
-us, -eia, -u
-ās, -aina, -an
-ōn, -ousa, -on
-ās, -āsa, -an
-eis, -eisa, -en
See also
For specific information on the first declension as it appears in Latin and Greek, see the appropriate sections in Latin declension and Ancient Greek nouns.
first, declension, first, declension, category, declension, that, consists, mostly, feminine, nouns, ancient, greek, latin, with, defining, feature, long, analysed, either, part, stem, case, ending, greek, grammar, also, called, alpha, declension, since, forms. The first declension is a category of declension that consists of mostly feminine nouns in Ancient Greek and Latin with the defining feature of a long a analysed as either a part of the stem or a case ending In Greek grammar it is also called the alpha declension since its forms have the letter a at least in the plural In Latin and Greek grammar the first declension is analyzed as a thematic declension But its lack of a Proto Indo European thematic vowel o or e and of any nominative singular ending ordinarily s or os doesn t neatly place it within either of the Proto Indo European nominal categories thematic and athematic Therefore it is assumed to be a newer formation a suffix based on the neuter plural ending e h forming a collective noun Contents 1 Latin 1 1 Latin nouns and adjectives 2 Ancient Greek 2 1 Greek nouns 2 2 Greek adjectives 3 See also 4 ReferencesLatin EditLatin nouns and adjectives Edit Latin first declension has only one set of endings for both feminine and masculine nouns The very small native masculine group includes only a few occupation nouns and nouns imported from the Greek masculine first declension agricola farmer ager agro field and root of colō I cultivate poeta poet poihths poietes one who composes poetry pirata pirate peirᾱths peirates one who makes an attempt on someone auriga charioteer aurea horse s bridle and agō I do lead drive The same endings are used for the feminine gender of Latin adjectives Ancient Greek EditGreek nouns Edit Greek first declension has two basic classes of feminine endings and one basic class of masculine endings distinguished by their original nominative singular long a short y ă long as But besides the nominative and accusative singular of feminines and nominative genitive and vocative singular of masculines forms are the same between subclasses In the Attic dialect an a e split divides each class into two subclasses nouns with ᾱ and nouns with h By contrast other dialects tend to generalize the vowel one way or the other Ionic has only e and Doric and Aeolic have only a Greek adjectives Edit The feminine of first and second declension adjectives uses the a class of the first declension os a e onFirst and third declension adjectives including participles in nt use the y ă class Here are examples of this class which is complex because of sound changes involving the y see Ancient Greek nouns short a us eia u as aina an ōn ousa on as asa an eis eisa enSee also EditFor specific information on the first declension as it appears in Latin and Greek see the appropriate sections in Latin declension and Ancient Greek nouns References Edit This article about the Ancient Greek language is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title First declension amp oldid 1007692675, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
