A Gothic Grammar, with selections for reading and a glossary

Chapter V: Appendix: Declension of Foren Words

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§ 119. A number of foren words from the Latin and Greek wer fully adopted into the Gothic language thru commercial and political intercourse, so that their inflection is the same as that of purely Gothic words; e. g., =pund=, n., _pound_; =marikreitus=, m., _perl_; =Krêks=, m., _Greek_; =karkara=, f., '_carcer_'; =alêw=, n., _oil_; =kaisar=, m., _Cæsar_.

§ 120. A second portion of foren words wer at a later period forced on the Gothic language by Christianity and especially by the version of the Bible. To these belong for the most part proper nouns which ar stil felt to be foren elements and hav but imperfectly adopted the Gothic inflection. For their treatment in Gothic no fixt rules can be givn. Sumtimes they retain their Greek inflection, sumtimes they take either similar or arbitrarily formd case-endings.--Cp. Bernhardt's 'Vulfila', p. XXVIII, and especially M. H. Jellinek, 'Beitr. zur erklärung der german. flexion' (Berlin 1891), pp. 76-84.

NOTE 1. Most consistent is the treatment of the Gr. masculins in
-ος, Lt. -us, which inflect in Gothic according to the =u=-decl.
(§§ 104, 105); e. g., =Paítrus=, =Barþaúlaúmaius=, =Teitus=,
=aípiskaúpus=, ἐπίσκοπος; =apaústaúlus=, ἀπόστολος; =aggilus=,
ἄγγελος; =sabbatus=, _sabbath_. But only in the sg. pl. forms
follow mostly the =i=-decl.; e. g., =apaústaúleis=, =sabbatins=,
=aggileis=, =aggilê= beside =aggiljus=.

NOTE 2. Greek case-endings ar retaind in the neuters
=alabalstraún=, ἀλάβαστρον; =praitôriaún=, πραιτώριον, etc.;
=Israêleitês= has the nom. pl. =Israêleitai= = Ἰσραηλῖται; Rom. IX,
4; or (with Gothic inflection) =Israêleiteis=; II. Cor. XI, 22.

NOTE 3. The following exampl may illustrate arbitrary inflection.
The Gr. ἐπιστολή is represented in Goth. by =aípistaúlê=
(nom. sg.). But the dat. sg. is =aípistaúlein=, the dat. pl.
=aípistaúlêm=, and the acc. pl. =aípistaúlans=.

CHAP. II. DECLENSION OF ADJECTIVS.

§ 121. In Gothic, as in all other Germanic languages, adjectivs hav two kinds of inflection, the +strong+ and the +weak+. The strong inflection is the original one corresponding to that of the cognate languages, the weak originated on Germanic soil. Every normal adj. may hav both a strong and a weak inflection. The distinction is a syntactic one: the +weak+ form is employd after the articl (rarely in other positions), the +strong+ form in all other cases, especially when the adj. is uzed predicativly, or attributivly without the articl. Cp. Zs. fda., 18, 17-43.

A. STRONG ADJECTIVS.

§ 122. The strong inflection of adjectivs is in part the same as the vocalic (or strong) inflection of the substantivs with which it was originally identical. In Germanic, however, sum cases of the adj. hav adopted the pronominal inflection, so that the identity between the adjectival inflection and that of the substantivs is now confined to certain cases. The nom. and acc. sg. of the neuter gender hav two forms of the same value, a substantival and a pronominal one (in =-ata=). The latter, however, is not uzed predicativly.

The Gothic adjectiv, like the substantiv, has three vocalic declensions: (1) Adjectivs of the =a=-declension which correspond to the substantival =a=-declension in the m. and n. (§ 89 et seq.) and in the f. of the =ô=-declension (§ 96 et seq.).--A subdivision is formd by the =ja=-stems, just as in the case of the corresponding substantivs. (2) Adjectivs of the =i=-declension which correspond to the substantivs in §§ 99-103. (3) Adjectivs of the =u=-declension belonging to the substantivs in §§ 104-106.

Classes (2) and (3), however, contain but very few remains in Gothic. The few adjectival =ja=-stems hav in most of the inflectional cases past over to the 1st class, so that the normal strong declension of the adjectivs in Gothic embraces only the =a=-declension and its subdivision, the =ja=-stems.

NOTE. Subject to +strong+ inflection ar all pronouns (except =sama=
and =silba=, § 132, n. 3), the cardinal numbers, inasmuch as they
inflect adjectivly, and =anþar=, _the second_; also the adjectivs
of a more general meaning: =alls=, _all_; =ganôhs=, _enuf_;
=halbs=, _half_; =midjis=, '_medius_'; =fulls=, _ful_.

§ 123. Paradim of the strong adjectival declension: =blinds=, _blind_. The pronominal forms differing from the inflection of the corresponding substantivs ar in the following paradim put in Italics:

§ 124. Here belong most of the extant adjectivs; e. g., =hails=, _hole, helthy_; =siuks=, _sik_; =juggs=, _yung_; =triggws=, _tru, faithful_; =swinþs=, _strong_; =ubils=, _evil_; =aiweins=, _eternal_; =haiþiwisks=, _wild_; =mahteigs=, _mighty_; =ansteigs=, _gracious_; =manags=, _much, many_; =môdags=, _angry_; =handugs=, _wise_.--Also adjectiv pronouns; as, =meins=, _mine, my_; =þeins=, _thine, thy_; =seins=, _his_; =jains=, _yun_; the superlativs (§ 137) and pps. pass.; as, =numans=, _taken_; =nasiþs=, _saved_ (cp. § 134).

NOTE 1. According to § 78, n. 2, the =s= of the nom. sg. is
dropt, (1) after =s=; e. g., =swês=, =swêsis=, _own_; =gaqiss=,
=gaqissis=, _consenting_. (2) after =r= preceded by a short vowel:
=anþar=, _the second, the other_; =unsar=, _our_; =izwar=, _your_;
=ƕaþar=, _which of the two_. Accordingly, the nom. pl. =warai= must
hav had a nom. sg. =war=, _wary_.

NOTE 2. The rules for the hardening of final soft spirants (79)
must be noted; as, =frôþs=, =frôdis=, _wise_; =gôþs=, =gôdis=,
_good_ (§ 74); =liufs=, =liubis=, _dear_; =daufs=, =daubis=, _def_
(§ 56, n. 1).

NOTE 3. Stems having a =w= before the case-endings ar subject to
the rule for final =w= (§ 42) in the nom. sg. m. and n. The three
words of this kind occur only in other cases. Therefore the noms.
pl. =fawai=, =qiwai=, =usskawai= suggest as noms. sg. m. and n.
=faus=, =fau=, _few_; =qius=, =qiu=, _alive_; =usskaus=, =usskau=,
_wakeful_. According to =usskawjan= (_to awake_, § 42, n. 2), also
=usskaws= might be supposed insted of =usskaus=. For =lasiws=, s. §
42, n. 1.

NOTE 4. The pronominal adjectivs in =-ar=: =unsar=, =izwar=,
=anþar=, =ƕaþar=, hav in the n. sg. only the shorter forms:
=unsar=, =izwar=, etc.

§ 125. Adjectiv-stems with =ja= before the endings (=ja=-stems) hav most of their forms like the paradim =blinds=. Only in few forms a change is caused by the =j=. As in the case of nouns, we distinguish between short and long adjectival =ja=-stems.

Paradim of a short =ja=-stem: =midjis=, _midl_:

§ 126. As regards inflection, the m. =midjis= is closely related to the substantiv =harjis= (§§ 90. 92), the n. =midi= to the substantiv =kuni= (§§ 93. 95). The fem. =midja= shows no deviation whatever.

Only a small number of adjectivs belong to this class: =aljis=, _another_; =sunjis=, _tru_; =ga-wiljis=, _unanimous_; =unsibjis=, _criminal_; =-fraþjis=, _minded_ (only in =grinda-=, =sama-fr.=); =ƕarjis= (§ 160); also those whose stems end in a vowel (§ 44, c): =niujis=, _new_; =-tôjis=, _doing_ (as, =ubiltôjis=, _evil-doing_).

NOTE 1. On account of the small number of these adjs. sum forms of
the abuv paradim ar not extant. Thus, the short form of the neuter
=midi= is givn in conformity with the long stems (§ 127), and that
of =niujis= would be =niwi=; only =niujata= occurs; the n. of
=-tôjis= would be =-taúi= (§ 26, a).

NOTE 2. The adj.-stem =frija-=, _free_, which occurs in the f. sg.
=frija=, =frijaizôs=, =frijai=, =frija=, and in the m. forms, acc.
sg. =frijana=, nom. pl. =frijai=, acc. =frijans=, has a contracted
nom. sg. m. =freis= (for =frijis=). Also the gen. sg., if extant,
would be =freis=.

NOTE 3. The nom. sg. f. of =niujis= is =niuja= (contrary to =þiwi=,
§ 98, n. 1).

§ 127. The long =ja=-stems inflect in the pl. like =midjis=. Paradim =wilþeis= (stem =wilþja-=), _wild_, in the sg.:

§ 128. The infl. of the m. is related to that of the sb. =haírdeis= (§§ 90. 92), the infl. of the f. to that of =bandi= (§§ 96. 98; only =wôþi= occurs; II. Cor. II, 15). None of the few adjs. of this class occurs in the gen. sg.; =wilþjis= (Rom. XI, 24) probably stands for =wilþjins=; s. § 132, n. 1.

Further exampls: =alþeis=, _old_; =faírneis=, _old_; =aírzeis=, _astray_; =wôþeis=, _sweet_.

* * * * *

§ 129. According to § 122, only remains of the original adjs. of the =i-= and =u=-declension ar extant in Gothic, viz.: nom. sg. of all genders, acc. sg. n., and gen. sg. m. and n. All other extant cases hav past over to the inflection of the =ja=-stems (§§ 125-127). The same rule applies to the weak forms (§ 132, n. 1).

NOTE. The old form of the gen. sg. [m.] n. is seen in =skeiris=
(Skeir. 45) for the =i=-decl., in =filaus= (§ 131, n. 3) for the
=u=-decl.; the latter, of course, is only a partial proof for the
adj.

§ 130. The adjectival =i=-stems ar connected with the substantivs =balgs=, =ansts= (§§ 99-103). Exampls: =hrains=, _clean_; =gamains=, _common_; =brûks=, _uzeful_; =analaugns=, _hidn_; =anasiuns=, _visibl_; =andanêms=, _agreeabl_; =andasêts=, _abominabl_; =sêls=, _kind_ (=unsêls=, _wicked_); =suts=, _sweet_; =skeirs=, _clear_; =gafáurs=, _sober_ (=unfáurs=, _talkativ_); =aljakuns=, _of different kind_. The paradim =hrains= inflects thus:

Plur. |
N. =hrainjai= =hrainja= | =hrainjôs=
etc. |

NOTE 1. A gen. sg. f. as wel as a longer n. form (like =hrainjata=)
ar not extant.

NOTE 2. A word may with certainty be referd to this class, (1)
if it occurs in the nom. sg. f. (=hrains=), (2) if besides the
nom. sg. m. and n. also cases with =j= ar found. But if only the
nominativs m. and n. (=hrains=, =hrain=) occur, the word may
inflect like =blinds= (123); if only =j=-cases (as, =hrainjamma=)
ar found, it may decline like =wilþeis=, =midjis= (§§ 127.
125).--Other adjectivs, however, ar without sufficient proof, but
for other considerations, included in this class; e. g., =skauns=,
_beutiful_; =auþs=, _desolate_, _waste_; =hauns=, _base_; =bleiþs=,
_merciful_; =gadôfs=, _fit_; =*mêrs=, _famous_ (in =wailamêr=,
nom. sg. n.).--Cp. Kluge, Stammbildg., §§ 178. 197. 229-231;
Beitr., 14, 167; 15, 489; Brgm., II, 287.

NOTE 3. Adjectival =i=-stems may be inferd from adverbs in =-iba=
(§ 210); e. g., =arniba=, =gatêmiba=.

§ 131. The adjectival =u=-stems ar related to the substantivs =sunus= (fem. =handus=), =faíhu= (§§ 104-106). Exampls: =hardus=, _hard_; =qaírrus=, _meek_; =þaúrsus=, _dry_; =tulgus=, _stedfast_; =manwus=, _redy_; =aggwus=, _narrow_; =aglus=, _difficult_; =seiþus=, _late_; =þlaqus=, _tender_; =twalibwintrus=, _twelv years_ (lit. _winters_) _old_. Paradim =hardus=:

Sing. M. N. F.
N. =hardus= =hardu=, =hardjata= | =hardus=
G. [=hardaus=?] | [=hardjaizôs=]
D. [=hardjamma=] | [=hardjai=]
A. =hardjana= =hardu=, =hardjata= | =hardja=

Plur. |
N. =hardjai= [=hardja=] | =hardjôs=
etc. |

NOTE 1. Whether adjectivs belong to this class is seen from the
nom. sg. in which the abuv adduced exampls occur (the only f.
forms being =þaúrsus= and =tulgus=; Beitr., 15, 570; 16, 318).
=laushandus=, _empty-handed_; =hnasqus=, _soft_; =kaúrus=, _hevy_,
ar merely inferd from their =ja=-cases.

NOTE 2. From the adv. =glaggwuba= (§ 210) an adj. =glaggwus= (§ 68)
can be inferd.

NOTE 3. The original adj. =*filus=, _much_, is preservd in Goth. in
the nom. acc. sg. n. uzed substantivly and adverbially: =filu=, the
gen. =filaus= being uzed adverbially.

B. WEAK ADJECTIVS.

§ 132. The weak declension of adjectivs is fully identical with the weak or =n=-declension of nouns (§§ 107-112). But it must be noticed that the f. of the weak adj. inflects like the paradim =tuggô= (cp. § 112, n. 1).--Exampl of an inflected weak adj. (=blinds=, § 123):

Sing. M. N. F.
N. =blinda= =blindô= | =blindô=
G. =blindins= | =blindôns=
D. =blindin= | =blindôn=
A. =blindan= =blindô= | =blindôn=

NOTE 1. Like =blinda= inflect all weak adjectivs. Of =ja=-stems:
nom. sg. =niuja=, =niujô=, =niujô= (cp. § 126), =wilþja= (§ 127);
--=i=-stems: =hrainja=, =hrainjô=; =u=-stems: =hardja=, =hardjô=
(cp. § 129 et seq.).--In the cases with =i= (gen. dat. sg. m. n.)
of the long stems in =-ja-= (=-i-=, =-u-=) the forms with =-ji-=
appear as the regular ones (as in the sb., § 108, n. 2; contrary
to § 44, c); cp. =wilþji(n)s=; Rom. XI, 24; =unhrainjin=; Mk.
IX, 25. Lu. VIII, 29; =unsêljin=; Mt. V, 39. Jo. XVII, 15. But
beside =unsêljins=; Eph. VI, 16 (in A) =unsêleins= (in B); beside
=faírnjin=; Mk. II, 21. Lu. V, 36, also =faírnin=; II. Cor. VIII,
10. IX, 2.

NOTE 2. Sum adjectivs occur only in the weak forms; as, =usgrudja=,
_idle, despondent_; =alaþarba=, _poor_; =usfaírina=, _blameless_;
=inkilþô=, _pregnant_, and a few more of which sum ar probably to
be regarded as substantivs (cp. Zs. fda., 18, 41, note).--The weak
form =ainaha= (no strong form occurs), _only_, has in Lu. VIII, 42
the nom. sg. f. =ainôhô= (cp. Beitr., 12, 203) which is certainly
incorrect for =ainahô=.

NOTE 3. All ordinals except 1st and 2nd (cp. § 146), and the prns.
=sama= and =silba= (§ 156) follow the +weak+ inflection only.

NOTE 4. Lastly, the prs. ptcs. (§ 133), comparativs (§ 136), and
the superlativs in =-ma= (§ 139) inflect exclusivly like weak adjs.
But all these words hav the f. according to the paradim =managei=
(§ 113, n. 3).

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A Gothic Grammar, with selections for reading and a glossaryChapter V: Appendix: Declension of Foren Words

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