Viruses

[Kenelm Philip]

        Several recent postings have stated that the correct _Latin_ plural
for 'virus' is 'virus' (if it makes any sense to use a plural at all)--
based on 'virus' being in the fourth declension. The following remarks
from a friend who studied Latin many years ago, and still has his books,
may be of interest:

> According to Allen & Greenough, _New Latin Grammar_ (Ginn & Co., 1888,
> 1903, 1916, 1931) Art. 48a, page 22, "virus" is a neuter nown in the
> _second_ declension.  Thus the plural is "viri."

and again:

> Allen & Greenough clearly state in the article that I cited (48a, page 22)
> that "virus" is in the 2nd declension.  The nominative plural for nouns
> ending in -us in the nom. singular is -i.  Thus the full declension would
> be (see comment after):
>
> virus      viri      nom.
> viri       virorum   gen.
> viro       viris     dat.
> virus      viros     acc.
> viro       viris     abl.
>
> "virus" is a gender exception in that the nom. singular ends in -us
> (usually masculine) rather then in -um (the more normal neuter form).  For
> neuter nouns in the 2nd declension ending in -us, the accusative singular
> ending is the same as the nominative; the accusative plural is the normal
> form, with the exception of "pelagus" = sea, which has a rare nominative
> and accusative plural: "pelage".

        So now we're back to 'viri' for the plural, which should hearten
all the people who have been saying that for years...

                                                        Ken Philip
fnkwp at uaf.edu