Φως morphology question
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Φως morphology question
I'm currently studying through Basics of Biblical Greek by Mounce and I'm trying to figure out why φως ends with a "ς" since the stem is φωτ and the word is third declension, neuter. I thought the "τ" simply dropped off on words like that (i.e. πνευμα). Thanks for any direction.
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Re: Φως morphology question
That’s the fun of third declension. It has a lot of exceptions! Sometimes you just need to learn the words as they appear.Stonemtn wrote: ↑December 24th, 2024, 10:19 am I'm currently studying through Basics of Biblical Greek by Mounce and I'm trying to figure out why φως ends with a "ς" since the stem is φωτ and the word is third declension, neuter. I thought the "τ" simply dropped off on words like that (i.e. πνευμα). Thanks for any direction.
Jason A. Hare
The Hebrew Café
Tel Aviv, Israel
The Hebrew Café
Tel Aviv, Israel
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Re: Φως morphology question
Morphology is not my forte, but I think this is close to a correct explanation of the declension of these two nouns. As always, jump in and correct anything I got wrong.
Exercise for the reader: try creating similar tables for these nouns:
ὄρος (mountain, stem: ὀρετ-)
γένος (race, kind, stem: γενετ-)
φῶς (light, stem: φωτ-)
πνεῦμα (spirit, wind, stem: πνευματ-)
Exercise for the reader: try creating similar tables for these nouns:
ὄρος (mountain, stem: ὀρετ-)
γένος (race, kind, stem: γενετ-)
φῶς (light, stem: φωτ-)
πνεῦμα (spirit, wind, stem: πνευματ-)
ἐξίσταντο δὲ πάντες καὶ διηποροῦντο, ἄλλος πρὸς ἄλλον λέγοντες, τί θέλει τοῦτο εἶναι;
http://jonathanrobie.biblicalhumanities.org/
http://jonathanrobie.biblicalhumanities.org/
Re: Φως morphology question
Thanks for the reply.
I understand where φως comes from if the 3rd declension, singular neuter has a ς for the ending as your chart shows, but Mounce teaches that 3rd declension, singular neuters have no ending (like your πνευμα in the lower chart). Thus you would expect the τ just to drop off and be left with φω rather than φως.
I guess φως is an exception for the rule that 3rd declension, singular neuters have no ending then?
I understand where φως comes from if the 3rd declension, singular neuter has a ς for the ending as your chart shows, but Mounce teaches that 3rd declension, singular neuters have no ending (like your πνευμα in the lower chart). Thus you would expect the τ just to drop off and be left with φω rather than φως.
I guess φως is an exception for the rule that 3rd declension, singular neuters have no ending then?
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Re: Φως morphology question
Probably because the one-syllable φῶ would be difficult to hold on to. The word would not stand out in pronunciation. No other third-declension neuters with -ς jump to mind.
Jason A. Hare
The Hebrew Café
Tel Aviv, Israel
The Hebrew Café
Tel Aviv, Israel
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Re: Φως morphology question
Could the reason be that φως in fact is φαος, belogning to a group of Neutra on -ος: δε(ι)ος, κλε(ι)ος, χρε(ι)ος, σπε(ι)ος, that doesn’t need the -τ- in the Declension?
(See Kühner-Blass, Vol 1, p. 436: https://archive.org/details/p1ausfhrlic ... 6/mode/2up )
(See Kühner-Blass, Vol 1, p. 436: https://archive.org/details/p1ausfhrlic ... 6/mode/2up )
Jean Putmans
Netherlands
Netherlands