Accusative Case-Ending -im

Certain nouns in Latin have an i-stem, such as puppis, -is (ship). However, following the consonant declension, these generally take an accusative stem -em (puppem), not -im.

This post covers exceptions to that rule, by listing all cases where -im is retained

1. Greek nouns borrowed from the Greek third declension (consonant declension) with an i-stem.

  • Paris -> Parim
  • Adōnis -> Adōnim
  • Busīris -> Busīrim

2. The following Latin nouns:

  • amussis, -is (rule)
  • būris, -is (plough-beam)
  • cucumis, -is (cucumber)
  • rāvis, -is (??)
  • sitis, -is (thirst)
  • tussis, -is (cough)
  • vīs, -ī (force, power)

[n.b. on rāvis, -is.... I can't find this in any online dictionary. Any clues?]

3. Adverbs in -tim, such as partim (in parts)

The -im ending is also found occasionally in the following words–

  • febris, -is (fever)
  • puppis, -is (ship)
  • restis, -is (cord)
  • turris, -is (tower)
  • secūris, -is (axe)
  • sēmentis, -is (sowing)

“and rarely in many other words,” say A&G. Damn poets…

The Essential AG: 75a-b

8 comments to Accusative Case-Ending -im

  1. Been enjoying the tour of AG. Thanks! Re: ravis. Festus writes that “ad ravim” (from Plautus) means “ad raucitatem”. (tinyurl.com/au5f3uu)—PJB

  2. Kathy says:

    My “New Handy Dictionary”, printed 1962 gives “ravis” as “hoarseness.” Looks like doctors are as much to blame as poets… maybe it was the handwriting, even back then.

  3. http://athirdway.com/glossa/?s=ravis

    Glossa is a very fast implementation of L&S online. It only does headword search, but it does it quite well.

  4. Nōmen Nesciō says:

    In Adler, chapter 30, I find the following.
    Accusative usually in -em, sometimes in -im:
    messis
    Accusative more often in -im than -em:
    febris
    pelvis
    puppis
    Accusative regularly in -im (ones in the blog post not repeated):
    basis
    poēsis
    paraphrasis

  5. […] For more on where the -im ending shows up, see this post. […]

  6. I was surprised to learn that besides Paridem, also Parim (and Parin) existed… I like this blog!

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