Ancient Greek

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Pronunciation

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Etymology 1

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Related to -άζω (-ázō, verb-forming suffix) and possibly -ων (-ōn). Cognate with Sanskrit -अत् (-at) and Hittite -𒀭𒍝.

Suffix

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-ᾰ́ς (-ásf (genitive -ᾰ́δος); third declension

  1. Forms nouns with participial function.
    λᾰ́μπω (lámpō, shine) + ‎-άς (-ás) → ‎λαμπάς (lampás, torch)
    φεύγω (pheúgō, to flee) + ‎-άς (-ás) → ‎φυγάς (phugás, an exile)
  2. Forms nouns with collective function.
    νείφω (neíphō, to snow) + ‎-άς (-ás) → ‎νιφάς (niphás, snowstorm)
  3. Forms designations of young animals.
    κεμάς (kemás, pricket)
  4. Forms derivatives of nasal stems extended with -t-.
    ἰκμαίνω (ikmaínō, to moisten) + ‎-άς (-ás) → ‎ἰκμάς (ikmás, moisture)
    ἐμβαίνω (embaínō, to enter) + ‎-άς (-ás) → ‎ἐμβάς (embás, slipper)
  5. Forms abstract or collective nouns of number from numerals.
    δέκᾰ (déka, ten) + ‎-άς (-ás) → ‎δεκάς (dekás, the number ten, group of ten)
Usage notes
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If a verb-stem varies in grade, the resulting noun is usually in the o-grade (or, failing that, the zero-grade), e.g. στρέφω (stréphō)στροφάς (strophás); νείφω (neíphō)νιφάς (niphás). The resulting substantive usually has nominal force, but sometimes has adjectival force.

Inflection
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References

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  • Smyth, Herbert Weir (1920) “Part II: Inflection”, in A Greek grammar for colleges, Cambridge: American Book Company, § 354
  • Birgit A. Olsen (1989) “A Trace of Indo-European Accent in Armenian”, in Historische Sprachforschung / Historical Linguistics[1], pages 235-240

Etymology 2

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Possibly related to -ις (-is), also to Etymology 1. The form -ιάς (-iás) comes from analogy to forms like Θεστιάς (Thestiás) from Θέστιος (Théstios).

Alternative forms

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Suffix

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-ᾰ́ς (-ásf (genitive -ᾰ́δος); third declension

  1. Forms feminine adjectives or nouns.
    Δηλιάς (Dēliás, female Delian)
  2. Forms female patronymics from name of father.
    Θεστιάς (Thestiás, daughter of Thestius)
Inflection
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Derived terms

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See also

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References

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  • Smyth, Herbert Weir (1920) “Part III: Formation of Words”, in A Greek grammar for colleges, Cambridge: American Book Company, § 845

Greek

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Etymology

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From Ancient Greek -άς (-ás).

Pronunciation

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Suffix

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-άς (-ásm (feminine -ού)

  1. added to another noun to create agent nouns:
    μύλος (mýlos, mill) + ‎-άς (-ás) → ‎μυλωνάς (mylonás, miller)
    γάλα (gála, milk) + ‎-άς (-ás) → ‎γαλατάς (galatás, milkman, dairyman)
    γυναίκα (gynaíka, woman) + ‎-άς (-ás) → ‎γυναικάς (gynaikás, womaniser)
    φαγητό (fagitó, food) + ‎-άς (-ás) → ‎φαγάς (fagás, gourmand, greedy guts)

Declension

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Derived terms

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