Virus-viri et viri-virorum

[Piera e Piero VISENTINI]

Dear Taxacomers

I agree with Philip's friend.
My ancients (I'm italian) used the word
"virus", a neuter of the second latin declension
whose plural is "viri", but the mining was obviously
slightly different:
a viscous juice (Plinio)
a poisonous beverage or poison (Tacito, Lucrezio,
Cicerone, Seneca)
a stink (Plinio)
a bitter or salt or tart taste (Lucrezio).

Ciao from Italy.

                                Piero Visentini
----------
> Da: Kenelm Philip <fnkwp at AURORA.ALASKA.EDU>
> A: TAXACOM at USOBI.ORG
> Oggetto: Re: Viruses
> Data: domenica 5 dicembre 1999 3.08
>
>         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