25
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:
| Singular | Plural | |
| Nominative | –ς | –ες |
| Genitive | –ος | –ων |
| Dative | –ι | –σι |
| Accusative | –α | –ας |
The 3rd Declension case endings for NEUTER nouns are as follows:
| Singular | Plural | |
| Nominative | – | –α |
| Genitive | –ος | –ων |
| Dative | –ι | –σι |
| Accusative | – | –α |
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
| Singular | Plural | |
| Nominative | ἡ μάρτυς | αἱ μάρτυρες |
| Genitive | τῆς μάρτυρος | τῶν μαρτύρων |
| Dative | τῇ μάρτυρι | ταῖς μάρτυσι |
| Accusative | τὴν μάρτυρα | τὰς μάρτυρας |
χείρ, χειρός ἡ hand
| Singular | Plural | |
| Nominative | ἡ χείρ | αἱ χεῖρες |
| Genitive | τῆς χειρός | τῶν χειρῶν |
| Dative | τῇ χειρί | ταῖς χερσί |
| Accusative | τὴν χεῖρα | τὰς χεῖρας |
πῦρ, πυρός τό fire
| Singular | (No plural) | |
| Nominative | τὸ πῦρ | |
| Genitive | τοῦ πυρός | |
| Dative | τῷ πυρί | |
| Accusative | τὸ πῦρ |
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-)
| Singular | Plural | |
| Nominative | ὁ πατήρ | οἱ πατέρες |
| Genitive