A Gothic Grammar, with selections for reading and a glossary

Chapter D: Comparison of Adjectivs

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_1. COMPARATIV._

§ 135. The comparativ degree of adjectivs in Gothic is formd by means of two suffixes, =-iz-= and =-ôz-=, to which the terminations of the weak adjectivs ar added.

The formation with the suff. =-iz-= is more general than the other. It is found in adjs. of all kinds; e. g., =managiza= (< =manags=, =a=-stem), =alþiza= (< =alþeis=, §§ 127. 128), =hardiza= (< =hardus=, § 131).--But the suffix =-ôz-= occurs in =a=-stems only: =frôdôza= (< =frôþs=), =swinþôza= (< =swinþs=).

NOTE. The adj. =juggs=, _yung_, has the compar. =jûhiza= (according
to § 50, n. 1). Its superlativ is not extant.

§ 136. The comparativs inflect exactly like weak adjectivs, but the f. ends in =-ei= (§ 132, n. 4):

Sing. N. m. =frôdôza= n. =frôdôzô= f. =frôdôzei=
G. =frôdôzins= =frôdôzeins=,

etc., like the prs. ptc. (§ 133).

_2. SUPERLATIV._

§ 137. The superlativ degree, like the comparativ, is formd in two ways, in =-ist-= or in =-ôst-=; e. g., =managists= (< =manags=), =armôsts= (< =arms=, _poor_). The inflection of the superlativs is precisely the same as that of ordinary adjectivs--strong and weak.

NOTE. No rule can be givn for the appearance of the =ô= or the =i=
in the suffix, except that the =ô=-form occurs only with =a=-stems.
We may suppose that a word which forms the compar. by means of
=i=, has =i= in the superl. also, and that, in like manner, the
=ô=-forms correspond to each other. This supposition, however, is
only founded on a few extant exampls.

_3. IRREGULAR COMPARISON._

§ 138. The lack of comparison of sum adjectivs is supplied by comparativs and superlativs with a corresponding meaning, but without a positiv:

=gôþs= (=d=), _good_ Compar. =batiza= Superl. =batists=
=ubils=, _evil_ " =waírsiza= " --
=mikils=, _great_ " =maiza= " =maists=
=leitils=, _litl_ " =minniza= " =minnists=
=sineigs=, _old_ " -- " =sinista=.

§ 139. A superlativ with an =m=-suffix is found in six words, which ar derived from adverbial stems and appear without a positiv. The =m=-suffix is either simpl: =fru-ma=, =innu-ma=, =aúhu-ma=, or compound: =af-tuma=, =if-tuma=, =hlei-duma=.

Two of them hav assumed a comparativ meaning: =aúhuma=, _higher_; =hleiduma=, _left_ (ἀριστερός); the others hav a superlativ or an intensiv signification: =aftuma=, _the last_; =iftuma=, _the next_; =innuma=, _the inmost_; =fruma=, _the first_.

These words follow the weak inflection, but hav the f. in =-ei=, exactly like the comparativs.

NOTE. Sum superlativs in =-ma= ar compared anew in the uzual
manner: =aftumists=, _the last_; =aúhumists=, oftener than
=aúhmists= (cp. OE. ŷmest, Sievers-Cook, OE. Gr., § 314, n. 3),
_the highest_; =frumists=, _the first_.--The forms =hindumists=,
_hindmost_, =spêdumists=, _last_ (< =*spêþs=, beside =spêdiza=,
=spêdists=), suggest the missing =hinduma= and =spêduma=. Also
=miduma=, =midst=, =midumônds=, _mediator_, point to a form
=*miduma=, _midl_ (cp. OE. meodume, midmest).

CHAP. III. NUMERALS.

1. CARDINALS.

§ 140. The first three numerals ar declinabl in all cases and genders.

1. =ains=, n. =ain= and =ainata=, f. =aina=, inflects entirely like a strong adj. (=blinds=, § 123). Plural forms mean _only_, _alone_. No weak inflection is found. (§ 122, n. 1).

The nom. of the m. and f., which is not extant, may with certainty be givn as =þreis=.

NOTE. The definit dual number '_both_', ἀμφότεροι, is renderd by
=bai=, which inflects like =twai=. The extant forms ar nom. m.
=bai=, dat. =baim=, acc. =bans=, nom. acc. n. =ba=.--There occurs
also an extended form with the same meaning, its inflection being
that of a consonantal substantiv (§ 117, n. 4): nom. =bajôþs=, dat.
=bajôþum=.

§ 141. The numerals from 4 to 19 ar of one gender. Extant ar: =fidwôr=, _4_; =fimf=, _5_; =saíhs=, _6_; =sibun=, _7_; =ahtau=, _8_; =niun=, _9_; =taíhun=, _10_; =ainlif= (§ 56, n. 1), _11_; =twalif=, _12_; =fidwôrtaíhun=, _14_; =fimftaíhun=, _15_. These numerals ar uzed uninflected, but may take an inflected gen. and dat. according to the =i=-declension (§ 99 et seq.). Thus, =fidwôr=, dat. =fidwôrim=; =niun=, gen. =niunê=; =taíhun=, dat. =taíhunim=; =ainlif=, dat. =ainlibim=; =twalif=, gen. =twalibê=, dat. =twalibim=.

NOTE. For =fidwôr= appears =fidur-= (s. § 24, n. 2) in cpds.:
=fidurfalþs=, _fourfold_; =fidurdôgs=, _time of four days_;
=fidurragineis=, _tetrarch_. Cp. Beitr., 6, 394; Brgm., III, 11.

§ 142. The tens from 20 to 60 ar formd by means of the pl. =tigjus= (< =*tigus=, _a decad_), preceded by the units. =tigjus= inflects regularly like =sunus= (§ 104). The object counted is always givn in the gen.--=twai tigjus=, _20_; =*þreis tigjus=, _30_ (extant in gen. =þrijê tigiwê=, acc. =þrins tiguns=), =fidwôr tigjus=, _40_; =fimf tigjus=, _50_; =saíhs tigjus=, _60_.

§ 143. From 70 to 100 =-têhund= takes the place of =tigjus=: =sibuntêhund=, _70_; =ahtautêhund=, _80_; =niuntêhund=, _90_; =taíhuntêhund= and =taíhuntaíhund=, _100_. The numerals in =-têhund= ar substantivs which ar as a rule indeclinabl. Onse (Lu. XV, 7) we meet with an inflected gen. sg.; =in niuntêhundis jah niunê garaíhtaizê=.--Cp. Brgm., III, 40.

§ 144. The hundreds ar formd by means of the plural of a neuter =hund= (_a hundred_). The following ar extant: =twa hunda=, _200_; =þrija hunda=, _300_; =fimf hunda=, _500_; =niun hunda=, _900_.

§ 145. =þûsundi=, _1000_, is a f. sb. (inflecting like =bandi=, § 96), with a gen. pl.; several thousands ar exprest by =þûsundjôs=.--Onse (Ezra II, 14) occurs a n. pl. =twa þûsundja=. Cp. ahd. gr., § 275. OE. Gr., § 327, and Mahlow, 'Die langen Vocale', p. 98.

The extant thousands ar: =twôs þûsundjôs=, _2000_; =.g. þûsundjôs=, _3000_; =fidwôr þûsundjôs=, _4000_; =fimf þûsundjôs=, _5000_; =taíhun þ.=, _10000_; =miþ twaim tigum= (dat.) =þûsundjô= (gen.), _with 20000_.

NOTE (to §§ 141-145). The numerals ar very often denoted by letters
(cp. § 1, n. 2). Therefore so many words for numerals ar wanting.

2. ORDINALS.

§ 146. The first two ordinals differ in point of stem from the corresponding cardinals. 1. m. =fruma=, n. =frumô=, f. =frumei= (s. § 139), and the superl. =frumists=, _first_ (§ 139, n. 1). 2. =anþar=, _second, other_, inflects like a strong adj. (§ 122, n. 1; § 124, ns. 1. 4).--All subsequent ordinals ar derived from the cardinals and inflect like weak adjectivs (§ 132, n. 3). The extant ordinals ar: =þridja=, _3d_; =*fimfta= (only in 15th), _fifth_; =saíhsta=, _6th_; =ahtuda=, _8th_; =niunda=, _9th_; =taíhunda=, _tenth_; =fimftataíhunda=, _15th_. Only the second component is declined: dat. sg. (=in jêra=) =fimftataíhundin=; Lu. III, 1.

3. OTHER NUMERALS.

§ 147. A distributiv numeral is =tweihnai=, _two apiece, two-and-two_, extant in the dat. f. =tweihnaim= and acc. f. =tweihnôs=.

NOTE. All other distributivs ar exprest by means of the cardinals
along with =ƕazuh=, =ƕarjizuh= (§§ 164. 165) or the prep. =bi=;
as (=insandida ins=) =twans ƕanzuh=, _two and two_; Lu. X, 1; =bi
twans=; I. Cor. XIV, 27.

§ 148. Multiplicativs ar formd by means of the adj. =falþ-=: =ainfalþs=, _onefold_; =fidurfalþs=, _fourfold_; =taíhuntaíhund-falþs=, _hundredfold_; =managfalþs=, _manifold_.

§ 149. Numeral adverbs answering the question 'how many times', 'how often'? ar exprest by the dat. sg. =sinþa= or by the dat. pl. =sinþam= (nom. sg. =sinþs=, _time_, lit. '_a going_') preceded by the cardinals: =ainamma sinþa=, _onse_; =twaim sinþam=, _twice_; =þrim sinþam=, _thrice_; =fimf s.=, _five times_; =sibun s.=, _seven times_.--With an ordinal numeral: =anþaramma sinþa=, _a second time_.

NOTE. Also the n. =þridjô=, _a third time_, is uzed adverbially
(II. Cor. XII, 14).

CHAP. IV. PRONOUNS.

1. PERSONAL PRONOUNS WITHOUT GENDER (REFLEXIV).

§ 150.

1. Person. 2. Person. Reflexiv.
Sing. N. =ik= =þu= --
G. =meina= =þeina= =seina=
D. =mis= =þus= =sis=
A. =mik= =þuk= =sik=

Dual N. =wit= -- --
G. =ugkara= =igqara= =seina=
D. =ugkis= =igqis= =sis=
A. =ugkis=, =ugk= =igqis= =sik=

Plur. N. =weis= =jus= --
G. =unsara= =izwara= =seina=
D. =uns=, =unsis= =izwis= =sis=
A. =uns=, =unsis= =izwis= =sik=

NOTE 1. =ugkis=, =igqis=, etc., are also speld =uggkis=, =iggqis=;
cp. § 67, n. 1.

NOTE 2. The nom. du. 2nd pers. is not extant; it was undoutedly
=jut=. For =jus= (=jûs=?), s. § 15, n. 1.

§ 151. From the stems of these pronouns adjectivs ar derived, the so-calld possessiv pronouns. 1st pers.: m. =meins=, n. =mein=, =meinata=; f. =meina=, _my_ (_mine_); 2nd pers.: =þeins=, _thy_ (_thine_); refl. =seins=, _his_. Plurals: 1st pers. =unsar=, _our_; 2nd pers. =izwar=, _your_. The only extant dual poss. prn. is =igqar=, the 1st pers. would be =ugkar=.

NOTE 1. The inflection of these pronominal adjectivs is identical
with that of the strong adj.; concerning =unsar=, =izwar=, cp. §
124, ns. 1 and 4.--No weak inflection occurs.

NOTE 2. The reflexiv =*seins= occurs only in the gen., dat., acc.;
insted of the nominativs of all genders and numbers the genitivs
of the prn. of the 3d pers. (=is=, =izôs=; =izê=, =izô=; § 152) ar
employd.

2. PRONOUNS OF THE THIRD PERSON.

§ 152.

NOTE. The acc. and gen. pl. n. and the nom. pl. f. ar not extant,
but the inferd forms ar undoutedly correct.

3. DEMONSTRATIV PRONOUNS.

§ 153. The simpl dem. prn. =sa=, =sô=, =þata= is uzed both as dem. prn., _this_, _that_ (for the Gr. οὗτος or αὐτός), and, with a weakend force, as articl, _the_. The latter uze is predominant.--The neuter sing. (like the interrog., § 159) has preservd the instrumental case.

Instr. -- =þê= | --

NOTE 1. The final =a=s of the dissyllabic forms ar dropt in
combination with enclitics beginning with a vowel; cp. § 4, n.
1.--For =þei= from =*þa-ei=, s. § 157, n. 2.

NOTE 2. The instr. n. =þê= is preservd only in the combinations
=bi-þê=, =du-þê= (=duþþê=), =jaþ-þê= (§ 62, n. 3), =þêei= (§ 157,
n. 1), and, like =þana= (in =þanamais=, =þanaseiþs=), before a
comparativ (= E. 'the' in 'the more').

§ 154. A compound demonstrativ pronoun is formd by affixing the enclitic particl =-uh= to the simpl demonstrativ. Cp. § 24, n. 2. Its meaning is always that of the simpl =sa= uzed demonstrativly, _this_, _that_ (= Gr. οὗτος or αὐτός).--It inflects thus:

NOTE 1. The forms in square brackets ar not extant.

NOTE 2. The instr. n. =þêh= occurs only in the adv. =bi-þêh=.

§ 155. A defectiv demonstrativ pronoun =hi-= (nom. =*his= = =is=, § 152), _this_, occurs only in temporal frases in the dativ m. and n. =himma= and in the acc. m. =hina=, n. =hita=; e. g., =himma daga=, _to-day_; =und hina dag=, _to this day_; =und hita=, _til now_.

§ 156. =jains= (concerning the vowel =ai=, cp. § 20, n. 4), n. =jainata=, f. =jaina= (_yon_), _that_, inflects like a strong adj. (=blinds=, § 124).

Like weak adjectivs inflect =silba=, _self_, and =sama=, _same_, or with the articl: =sa sama=, _the same_ (cp. § 132, n. 3).

4. RELATIV PRONOUNS.

§ 157. A simpl relativ pronoun is not found in the Gothic language. A relativ prn. of the 3d pers. is formd from the simpl demonstrativ pronoun by affixing the particl =ei= which, when uzed independently, has the force of a conjunction, _that, in order that_. This relativ pronoun inflects as follows:

NOTE 1. The instr. n. =þêei= is uzed only as a conjunction.

NOTE 2. Beside =þatei= occurs =þei=, which is employd, however,
only in combination with =ƕah= (§ 164, n. 1), and (like =þatei=) as
a conjunction, _that_. Cp. Beitr., 4, 467; 6, 402; Zs. fda., 29,
366 et seq.

NOTE 3. Insted of the nom. sg. =saei=, m., =sôei=, f., also =izei=,
m., =sei= (i. e. =si-ei=, § 10, n. 2), f., (formd from the 3d pers.
of the pers. prn., § 152) ar employd. The form =sei= occurs even
more frequently than =sôei=. Sumtimes =izei= stands as nom. pl.
m. (for =eizei= which is not found); e. g., =þai izei bimaitanai
sind=; Gal. VI, 13.--For =izei= the form =izê= is often found; cp.
§ 17, n. 1.

NOTE 4. Concerning the change of final =s= before =ei= into =z=, s.
§ 78, c.

§ 158. When a relativ clause refers to a prn. of the 1st or 2nd pers., the relativ particl is affixt to the respectiv pers. prn. Thus, =ikei=, _who_ (1st pers. sg.); --=þuei=, _who_; =þuzei=, _to whom_ (as in Mk. I, 11); =þukei=, _whom_ (2nd pers. sg.); --=juzei=, _who_; =izwizei=, _to whom_ (2nd pers. pl.).

5. INTERROGATIV PRONOUNS.

§ 159. The interrogativ pronoun =ƕas=, _who?_ (= Lt. quis), is formd from the simpl interrogativ stem =ƕa-=. A substantiv following =ƕas= occurs always in the genitiv; e. g., =ƕa mizdônô=, τίνα μισθόν; Mt. V, 46.

Instr. -- =ƕê= | --

NOTE 1. The gen. f. is not extant. The instr. occurs only in the
neuter (cp. =sa=, § 153).

NOTE 2. =ƕas= has no plural; cp. however =ƕanzuh=, § 164, n.

NOTE 3. =ƕas= is also employd as an indefinit prn.; cp. § 162, n. 2.

§ 160. From stem =ƕa-= ar derived: =ƕaþar=, _which of two?_, and =ƕarjis=, _which?_ A substantiv following is always put in the gen. Both words inflect like strong adjectivs--=ƕaþar= like =anþar= (cp. § 124, n. 1), =ƕarjis= like =midjis= (§ 125), f. =ƕarja=, the n. =*ƕarjata= like =ƕarjatôh= (§ 165).

§ 161. Compound interrogativs: =ƕileiks=, _what sort of?_, '_qualis?_' (its correlativ being =swaleiks=, _such_, '_talis_'), and =ƕêlauþs=, f. =ƕêlauda=, _how great?_, '_quantus?_' (correlativ =swalauþs=, _so great_, '_tantus_'). These words inflect like a strong adjectiv.

NOTE. =ƕeleiks= (in Lu. I, 29), for =ƕileiks=, is probably miswritn
(according to § 10, n. 5).

6. INDEFINIT PRONOUNS.

§ 162. The Goth. indefinit pronoun =sums=, f. =suma=, n. =sum=, =sumata=, =sum= (Gr. τις, τι), inflects like a strong adjectiv and is uzed adjectivly; with the meaning _sum one, a certain one_, it is also uzed substantivly.

NOTE 1. An enumerativ expression is =sums...sums= (= Gr. ὁ μέν...ὁ
δέ). In most cases =uh= (§ 24, n. 2) is added to the second
=sums=, occasionally also to the first; as, =sumai...sumáih=, or
=sumáih...sumáih=, _sum ... others_.

NOTE 2. Also the interrogativ =ƕas= (§ 159) is very often uzed as
an indefinit prn., _anyone_.

§ 163. The enclitic particl =-hun= is uzed to form indefinit pronouns which occur only with the negativ particl =ni=. Their meaning is _no one, none_.

(a) The singular of =manna=, _man_ (§ 117), with the suffix =-hun= means _no one_.--The extant forms ar:

n. =ni mannahun=,
d. =ni mannhun=,
g. =ni manshun=,
acc. =ni mannanhun=.

(b) =ni ƕashun= (< =ƕas=, § 159), uzed substantivly, _no one_. It occurs in the nom. sg. m. only.--An analogon to =ƕashun= is =ƕanhun= (< =ƕan=, § 214, n. 1).

(c) =ni ainshun=, the commonest indef. prn., is uzed substantivly (_no one, none_) and adjectivly (_no, not any_). A following sb. occurs always in the (partit.) gen.; e. g., =ni ainshun þiwê=, _no servant_; Lu. XVI, 3.--The declension of =ainshun= differs in sum cases from that of the simpl form =ains= (§ 140).

Sing. M. N. | F.
N. =ainshun= =ainhun= | =ainôhun=
G. =ainishun= | --
D. =ainummêhun= | =ainaihun=
A. =ainnôhun= } =ainhun= | =ainôhun=
=ainôhun= } |

NOTE. =-hun= is also affixt to the acc. sg. of the sb. =ƕeila= (§
97, n. 2): =ƕeilôhun=, _for an hour_ (=ni ƕeilôhun=, οὐδὲ πρὸς
ὥραν; Gal. II, 5).

§ 164. '_Every_' is renderd by affixing =-uh= to the interrogativ pronouns.

(a) =ƕazuh=, _every_. A noun or prn. following takes the gen. Its inflection differs in part from that of the simpl form =ƕas= (§ 159):

Plur. |
A. =ƕanzuh= -- | --

In the pl. only the acc. =ƕanzuh= occurs.

NOTE 1. The indef. relativ '_whoever, whosoever_' (Lt. quicunque)
is renderd: (1) by =ƕazuh saei= or, with =sa= prefixt, =saƕazuh
saei=. For =saei= also =izei= is found (§ 157, n. 3).--These
forms ar uzed in the nom. sg. only, the nom. n. =þataƕah þei=
(=þei= = =þatei=, § 157, n. 2) occurs twice: Jo. XV, 7. 16.--(2)
by =þisƕazuh= followd by =saei= or =ei= in all cases; the first
component, =þis=, remains uninflected: m. n. =þisƕazuh saei=, dat.
=þisƕammêh saei=, acc. =þisƕanôh saei=; --nom. acc. n. =þisƕah þei=
(or =þatei=), gen. =þisƕizuh þei=, dat. =þisƕammêh þei=.

NOTE 2. Here may be observd the adverbs: =ƕêh= (instr. of =ƕazuh=),
_at least, at any rate, only_, and =þisƕaduh þei=, _whithersoever_,
=þisƕaruh þei=, _wheresoever_ (cp. =ƕaþ=, =ƕar=, § 213, n. 1).

§ 165. (b) =ƕarjizuh=, _every, each_.

NOTE. =ƕarjizuh= is also compounded with (uninflected) =ain=:
=ainƕarjizuh=, _every one, every, each_, n. =ainƕarjatôh=, dat.
=ainƕarjammêh=, etc.

§ 166. _Each of two_ is renderd by =ƕaþaruh=; it occurs only in the dat. =ƕaþarammêh= (Skeir. 46), for the evidently incorrect =ƕaþaramma= (cp. Bernhardt's comment on this passage); --also with =ain-= prefixt (cp. § 165, n. 1): =ainƕaþaruh=, _each one of two_ (only =ainƕaþarammêh= occurs; Skeir. 41).

CHAP. V. CONJUGATION.

GENERAL REMARKS.

§ 167. The Gothic verb has the following forms:

1. Two voices, Activ and Midl. The Activ Voice alone has preservd a great variety of forms. The Midl Voice is retaind in but a few forms of the prs. indicativ and optativ, which occur, however, very often. The midl forms hav a passiv meaning. Therefore the Midl Voice is also calld Passiv or Medio-Passiv Voice.

NOTE 1. The lost passiv forms ar supplied by the pp. along with the
corresponding forms of =waírþan= or =wisan=; e. g., =daupjada=, _he
is baptized_, but =daupiþs was= or =warþ=, _he was baptized_. Cp.
Zs. fdph., 5, 409 et seq.

NOTE 2. The originally inchoativ verbs in =-nan= (§ 194) frequently
hav a medial meaning (§ 194).

2. Two tenses, Present and Preterit (Perfect). The Preterit is the general tense for the past. The future is wanting; its place is mostly supplied by the present, seldom by means of auxiliary verbs (=skulan=, _shal_; =haban=, _hav_; =duginnan=, _to begin_).

3. Two complete moods, Indicativ and Optativ (also calld Subjunctiv). An Imperativ occurs only in the present; it has the second persons of all three numbers and a 1st pers. pl.--There ar but few instances of a 3d pers. sg. and pl. imper. This is uzually exprest by the 3d pers. opt. But also the 2nd and 1st pers. imp. ar frequently exprest by the opt.

4. Three numbers: Singular, Dual, and Plural. The 3d pers. du. is wanting.

5. The Present Infinitiv, the Present Participl with an activ meaning, and the Preterit Partic. with a passiv meaning.

§ 168. The Gothic verbs ar, from a Germanic point of view, divided according to the formation of the preterit in relation to the present into two chief classes:

I. STRONG VERBS.

The strong verbs do not form the preterit with an additional suffix, but by change of the radical vowel or by reduplication. Thus, we hav two subdivisions:

1. Ablaut Verbs. The preterit of these verbs is formd without reduplication. It differs from the present only by a regular change of the radical vowel, the so-calld ablaut (cp. § 29); e. g., =binda=, _I bind_, =band=, _I bound_.

2. Reduplicating Verbs. The prt. has reduplication, but no ablaut; e. g., =halda=, _I hold_, =haíhald=, _I held_.

3. Reduplicating Ablaut Verbs. A smaller number of verbs hav the prt. both with ablaut and reduplication; e. g., =lêta=, _I let_; =laílôt=, _I let_ (prt.).

II. WEAK VERBS.

The weak verbs form the preterit by the addition of a suffix beginning with a dental consonant; e. g., =nasja=, _I save_, =nasida=, _I saved_. This suffixal element, =-da=, was formerly regarded as a form of the verb 'do' (Germanic dôn), wherefore the weak prt. was also calld 'compound preterit'.

The weak verbs (except a few) ar derivativ verbs. According to their formativ suffixes, which ar best preservd in the preterit forms, they ar divided into four classes: (1) Suffix =i= (in the present =j=): =nasja=, =nasi-da=. (2) Suffix =ô=: =salbô=, =salbô-da=. (3) Suffix =ai= (in the present in part obscured): =haba=, =habai-da=. (4) Suffix =nô= (in the present =n=): =fullna=, =fullnô-da=.

NOTE. The small number of verbs which can not be referd to the two
chief classes must, according to this classification, be considerd
'irregular'.

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A Gothic Grammar, with selections for reading and a glossaryChapter D: Comparison of Adjectivs

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