Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site mhuxv.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxl!mhuxj!mhuxv!pdt From: pdt@mhuxv.UUCP (tyma) Newsgroups: net.unix-wizards Subject: Re: Summary of responses to: "Let ME try ..." Message-ID: <124@mhuxv.UUCP> Date: Mon, 11-Jun-84 10:11:39 EDT Article-I.D.: mhuxv.124 Posted: Mon Jun 11 10:11:39 1984 Date-Received: Tue, 12-Jun-84 00:36:14 EDT References: <185@itm.UUCP>, <7438@umcp-cs.UUCP> Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill Lines: 20 As long as we're going to pick nits about Latin grammar (sheesh!): >`Illegitimi non carborundum'' is a Latin phrase meaning > ``don't let the bastards wear you down''. ``Illegitimum'' >would be the singular. (1) The grammatical construction here is a gerundive; hence, the predicate form *must* agree with the noun in gender, case, and number. Ergo (so to speak), the endings must agree: "illegitimi non carborundi [sunt]" or "illegitimus non carborundus [est]". (2) If "illegitimi" is the plural, then it is second declension masculine; its singular is therefore "illegitmus", not "illegitimum." The latter is a second declension *neuter* (singular); its plural form, like that of *all* neuter nouns in *all* declensions, MUST end in "-a" (as in "illegitima"). Aren't you glad you asked? (Please respond in nettus.latinus, a more appropriate "forum.") :-)