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Ancient Greek

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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    From earlier -ᾱ (), from Proto-Hellenic *-ā, from Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂. The earlier -ᾱ is retained in certain dialects, and in Attic after ε, ι or ρ, whence -εā, -ιā and -ρā (e.g., ἀγορά agorā).

    Cognate with Latin feminine -a, from Old Latin and Proto-Italic *-ā both in names and adjectives, e.g., φυγή (phugḗ, "retreat, escape") < Proto-Hellenic *pʰugā́ < Proto-Indo-European *bʰugéh₂; at the same time, *bʰugéh₂ > Proto-Italic *fugā (preserved in Old Latin) > Classical Latin fuga.

    Suffix

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    (f (genitive -ης); first declension (Attic, Epic, Ionic, Koine)

    1. suffix of nouns in the first declension.
    2. Added to verbal stems ending in a consonant to form an action noun.
      1. Added to o-grade of the verbal stem
        τρέφω (tréphō, to nourish) + ‎ () → ‎τροφή (trophḗ, nourishment)
      2. Added to zero-grade of the verbal stem
        φεύγω (pheúgō, to flee) + ‎ () → ‎φυγή (phugḗ, flight)
        τυγχάνω (τυχ-) (tunkhánō (tukh-), to happen) + ‎ () → ‎τύχη (túkhē, fortune)
      3. Added to e-grade of the verbal stem
        στέγω (stégō, to shelter) + ‎ () → ‎στέγη (stégē, roof)
    3. Added to masculine or neuter nouns to give a feminine form.

    Usage notes

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    In Attic, the suffix retains the form -ᾱ () after ε (e), ι (i) or ρ (r).

    The o-grade and zero-grade derivations have the accent on the suffix.

    Declension

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    Alternative forms

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    Derived terms

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    See also

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    References

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