Chapter 6: Turning Latin Adjectives into Latin Nouns
§51. Chapter 6: Exercises
1. By using one of the suffixes -(I)TAS, -ITUDO, or -ITIA, form a Latin abstract noun from each of the following Latin adjectives, and then show the English noun derivative:
| Latin adjective | Latin noun | English noun | |
| e.g. | dignus (worthy) | dignitas | dignity (also dainty) |
| a. | severus (stern) | __________________ | ____________________ |
| b. | beatus (blessed) | __________________ | ____________________ |
| c. | avarus (greedy) | __________________ | ____________________ |
| d. | socius (allied) | __________________ | ____________________ |
| e. | integer (whole) | __________________ | ____________________ |
| f. | aptus (fit) | __________________ | ____________________ |
2. The following English abstract nouns are of Germanic origin; can you think of parallel English nouns (semantic and structural counterparts) derived from Latin?
| Nouns in -(I)TY (< -(I)TAS) | Nouns in -ITUDE (< -ITUDO) | ||||
| a. | freedom | _______________ | f. | height | _______________ |
| b. | wordiness | _______________ | g. | breadth | _______________ |
| c. | stillness | _______________ | h. | strength | _______________ |
| d. | darkness | _______________ | i. | loneliness | _______________ |
| e. | ripeness | _______________ | j. | greatness | _______________ |
3. Look up the etymology of the English word city, and write down the main stages in its evolution from the original Latin root:
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4. The following English nouns have been disguised during their transmission through French. Find the Latin abstract noun and Latin adjective from which each is derived:
| Latin Abstract Noun | Latin Adjective | (meaning) | ||||
| a. | < | poverty | __________ | < | __________ | __________ |
| b. | < | bounty | __________ | < | __________ | __________ |
| c. | < | dainty | __________ | < | __________ | __________ |
| d. | < | frailty | __________ | < | __________ | __________ |
5. Give a schematic analysis for each of the following words:
| e.g. | vitality | < L vitalitas: noun base vit– (vita, “life”) + adj. suffix –alis (“pertaining to”) + noun suffix –itas |
| a. | femininity | ___________________________________________________________ |
| b. | originality | ___________________________________________________________ |
| c. | longitude | ___________________________________________________________ |
| d. | luminosity | ___________________________________________________________ |
| e. | acrimonious | ___________________________________________________________ |
| f. | spirituality | ___________________________________________________________ |
For Key to Exercises (Latin), see Appendix I.
