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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
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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.")   :-)