4 ms·
One interesting example from Latin is the word "virus", which roughly means "slime" -- being a mass noun, it has no classically attested plural. I think that i
by cperciva 4y ago
One interesting example from Latin is the word "virus", which roughly means "slime" -- being a mass noun, it has no classically attested plural.
I think that if it had a classical plural, it would be virora (like corpus -> corpora, tempus -> tempora) but ultimately the concept of "a virus" is a modern invention.
- macleginn 4y agovirus is second-declension neuter (genitive singlular viri, not *viroris), therefore the plural should be vira, as recommended by Wiktionary: https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/virus#Latin https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/virus#Latin
- sadur 4y ago'Virus' is a neuter second-declension noun, while 'corpus' and 'tempus' are third-declension nouns. So, if you want to use 'virus' in plural maybe the best form is 'vira'.
- cperciva 4y ago'Virus' is a neuter second-declension noun Citation needed. As far as I'm aware, there is no classical attestation for either second or third declension.