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More 3rd Declension Nouns

We have already learned how to form 3rd Declension nouns. Most of the nouns that we introduced in these lessons have stems ending in –ν (δαιμον-), –δ (ἐλπιδ-), –ντ (ἀρχοντ-) or –κτ (νυκτ-). In other words, these stems end in a NASAL, DENTAL, or PALATAL. In this lesson, we introduce 3rd Declension nouns that have stems ending in –ρ, and –εσ.

Before we look at these new nouns, let us review the 3rd Declension case endings for MASCULINE and FEMININE nouns:

The 3rd Declension case endings for NEUTER nouns are as follows:

Stems Ending in –ρ

Declining most 3rd Declension nouns whose stem ends in –ρ is fairly straightforward. Greek often avoids the combination –ρσ-, usually by dropping the –ς from the NOMINATIVE SINGULAR (μάρτυς –υρος is an exception to this rule).

In the DATIVE PLURAL, the –σι ending is always intact. What happens when the –ρ– encounters the –σι can vary. Many nouns simply allow the full –ρσι– combination. For example, the dative plural of ῥήτωρ, ῥήτορος “orator,” is ῥήτορσι (S 259; GPH p. 11). There are, however, exceptions to this pattern.

• μάρτυς –υρος drops the ρ for most Greek authors: μάρτυσι
• χείρ, χειρός shortens its stem: χερσί

Note the inflections of the following common nouns, each with their own slight peculiarities:

μάρτυς -υρος ὁ, ἡ witness

χείρ, χειρός ἡ hand

πῦρ, πυρός τό fire

Stems Ending in –ερ

More stem and accent changes occur in noun stems ending in –ερ (S 262). The good news is that the basic case endings do not change. The stem changes, however, do require memorization.

There are four common nouns of this type (S 262; cf. GPH p. 12). As you memorize the inflections for each, note the following patterns for the first three nouns:

• The vowel stem –ερ becomes –ηρ in the nominative singular, due to the loss of a sigma resulting in COMPENSATORY LENGTHENING.
• The vowel stem –ερ becomes simply –ρ in the genitive singular, and dative singular and plural.
• The accent is on the ultima in the genitive and dative singular, on the penult in the accusative singular and all forms of the plural.
• The insertion of an –α– between the ρ– and –σι in the dative plural.

πατήρ, πατρός ὁ father (stem: πατερ-)

μήτηρ, μητρός ἡ mother (stem: μητερ-)

θυγάτηρ, θυγατρός ἡ daughter (stem: θυγατερ-)

For the fourth noun, note the following patterns:

• The vowel stem –ερ becomes –ηρ in the nominative singular, due to the loss of a sigma resulting in COMPENSATORY LENGTHENING.
• The vowel stem –ερ became simply –ρ in all oblique cases!
• The resulting forms (e.g. ἀνρός, ἀνρί) gradually developed a sound change that inserted a δ between ν and ρ (S 130). (Likewise, the French word cendre, “ash,” comes from the Latin cinerem!)
• The accent pattern matches the other three –ερ nouns, with the exception of the genitive plural ending: ἀνδρῶν.

ἀνήρ, ἀνδρός ὁ man (stem: ἀνερ-)

Stems Ending in –εσ

As we saw in our discussion of the ATTIC FUTURE, an INTERVOCALIC SIGMA – i.e., a  –σ– found between two vowels – often drops out, and the surrounding vowels contract. This process often occurs in 3rd Declension noun stems ending in –εσ once personal endings are added.

Nouns of this type are usually NEUTER. Masculine and feminine nouns of this type do appear, but they are less frequent or are proper names.

1. Proper names in –εσ

The name Socrates, ὁ  Σωκράτης, declines as follows (S 264; GPH 13). Note the following patterns:

• In the nominative singular, the loss of a sigma results in COMPENSATORY LENGTHENING, just as we see with the four –ρ stem nouns above.
• Regular and expected contractions occur in the oblique forms once the intervocalic sigma is dropped.
• Finally, in the accusative singular, a ν is added by many, though not all, authors.

2. Neuter nouns in –εσ

For neuter nouns, recognizable patterns emerge.

• First, in the nominative and accusative singular, the stem –ες becomes –ος. Otherwise, all accent and contraction rules apply normally (S 264; GPH p. 14).
• Second, the accent is usually born on the ANTEPENULT of the uncontracted, inflected forms.

For example:

ἔτος -ους τό year (stem: ἐτεσ-)

γένος -ους τό clan, generation; type, class (stem: γένεσ-)

– τὸ τέλος –