S-Stem Nouns and Adjectives in Greek and Proto-Indo-European: A Diachronic Study in Word Formation (Oxford Classical Monographs)

## Abstract This book deals with one aspect of Greek and Proto-Indo-European nominal morphology: the formation, inflection, and semantics of s-stem nouns and adjectives. It uncovers the mechanisms of their creation and shows their limitation. The established view that the nouns are an unproductive category is challenged; at the same time, the expanding and partly changing nature of the basis governing the creation of the adjectives is explained. Morphology and semantics are studied in tandem, and a large chronological span of the Greek language is covered. The historical side is then extended into prehistory, and in particular the Greek evidence is tested against recent theories on Proto-Indo-European ablaut, leading to a reassessment of the morphonological characteristics in question. Contents......Page 8 Abbreviations, Conventions, and Texts Used......Page 10 Prologue: The Study of a Suffix......Page 14 1.2 Research in modern times: the early years......Page 19 1.3 The Neogrammarian turning point......Page 23 1.4 A forgotten master......Page 24 1.5 Ex oriente lux? Caland’s Law and the s-stems......Page 27 1.6 A long shadow: The discussion of ‘Caland’s Law’......Page 29 1.8 The 1930s or gigantes erant super terram in diebus illis......Page 39 1.9 Work on Latin and Sanskrit......Page 41 1.10 The 1980s......Page 43 1.11 Inflection and word formation......Page 44 1.12 Recent work on s-stems......Page 49 1.13 Word formation in generative grammar......Page 50 1.14 Conclusion......Page 56 2.1 Introduction: The neuter s-stem nouns as an inherited category......Page 58 2.2 The derivational bases of neuter s-stem nouns in Proto-Indo-European and Greek......Page 59 2.3 History and prehistory: The inflectional paradigm of neuter s-stem nouns......Page 66 2.4 Reversing the cycle: the secondary derivation of neuter s-stem nouns......Page 99 2.5 Interchange between o/ā-stems and s-stems......Page 107 2.6 The semantics of deadjectival s-stem nouns......Page 111 2.7. Deverbative neuter s-stem nouns: semantics and competing suffixes......Page 126 2.8. Notes on neuter nouns in -ας......Page 135 3.1 The animate s-stem nouns in Greek: an overview......Page 142 3.2 The attested forms......Page 143 3.3 Observations on the nouns in -ως and their history in Greek......Page 152 3.4 Animate s-stem nouns: the Indo-European and Proto-Greek background......Page 155 4.1 Introduction......Page 173 4.2 The s-stem adjectives as an inherited category......Page 174 4.3 Scope of the examination......Page 178 4.4 Types of compounds attested......Page 179 4.5 Compounds from s-stem nouns in Greek and nominal s-stem compounds: bases and historical development......Page 183 4.6 Adjectives in -ης directly derived from adjectives in -υς?......Page 195 4.7 Adjectives in -ης derived from verbs......Page 199 4.8 Early forms: the onomastic and Mycenaean evidence......Page 210 4.9 The accentuation and root gradation of s-stem compounds......Page 212 4.10 Two special formations......Page 216 4.11 Simple s-stem adjectives......Page 219 4.12 Competing formations: -ης and -το-......Page 223 4.13 Compound adjectives in -ης and compound verbs in -εω......Page 225 Epilogue: Combining the Threads......Page 229 References......Page 240 Index......Page 256

This book deals with one aspect of Greek and Proto-Indo-European nominal morphology, the formation, inflection and semantics of s-stem nouns and adjectives. It uncovers the mechanisms of their creation and shows their limitation. The established view that the nouns are an unproductive category is challenged; at the same time, the expanding and partly changing nature of the basis governing the creation of the adjectives is explained. Morphology and semantics are studied in tandem, and a large chronological span of the Greek language is covered. The historical side is then extended into prehistory, and in particular the Greek evidence is tested against recent theories on Proto-Indo-European ablaut, leading to a reassessment of the morphonological characteristics in question.

"In this book, the various s-stem formations of Greek are, for the first time, examined together. After setting the scene by reviewing the discussion of the matter so far and putting it in context, Torsten Meissner traces the history and usage of the formations to the end of the Classical period and often beyond. Much attention is paid to the productivity and the rules governing the creation of these nominals."--Jacket Torsten Meissner examines a group of nouns and adjectives, all formed with the same suffix, and explains their morphology and semantics, from prehistoric times throughout the Classical period of Greece, furthering our understanding of the Greek language Research into s-stem nouns and adjectives has a long and distinguished history.