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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Roman Collector, post: 3013337, member: 75937&quot;]Exactly right, [USER=19463]@dougsmit[/USER] , In both Latin and Greek, the genitive stems are used with the inflectional endings to make the case forms. In the third declension of each language, the masculine and feminine take -s to make the nominative (neuter is different) in the singular and -es in the plural. The genitive stem of the adjective constans is constant-. It takes little imagination to know this word means <i>constant, unchanging, steadfast</i> in English.</p><p><br /></p><p>Here is how it is declined (singular; plural - masculine/feminine only):</p><p><br /></p><p>nominative:&nbsp; constans;&nbsp;&nbsp; constantes</p><p>genitive:&nbsp; constantis;&nbsp; constantium</p><p>dative:&nbsp; constanti;&nbsp; constantibus</p><p>accusative:&nbsp; constantem; constantes</p><p>ablative:&nbsp; constanti;&nbsp; constantibus</p><p>vocative:&nbsp; constans;&nbsp; constantes</p><p><br /></p><p>As I mentioned above, the actual case ending in the nominative case is -s in the singular and -es in the plural, both for Latin and Greek. So, the nominative singular would be <i>constants</i>. But in each of these languages, the consonant cluster -ts was not considered euphonious and it loses the t, becoming simply s: <i>constans</i>. However, -tes (the plural) was considered euphonious and the t is retained. <i>Constans, constantes</i>.</p><p><br /></p><p>Here&#039;s a similar word in Greek, which everyone will recognize in English because of its genitive stem. The word is χάρις, which means <i>grace</i>:</p><p><br /></p><p>Nominative: χάρις; χάριτες</p><p>Genitive: χάριτος; χαρίτων</p><p><br /></p><p>I&#039;ll transliterate into Latin characters for those unfamiliar with the Greek alphabet:</p><p><br /></p><p>Nominative: charis; charites</p><p>Genitive: charitos; charitōn</p><p><br /></p><p>Building off the genitive stem, charit-, the nominative singular would be charits. But, as discussed above, the consonant cluster -ts was not considered euphonious and it loses the t, becoming simply s: charis. As with the case in Latin, tes (the plural) was considered euphonious and the t is retained. One charis, three charites -- the three Graces.</p><p><br /></p><p>This explains some of the so-called &quot;irregular&quot; plurals in English:</p><p><br /></p><p>index; indices</p><p>phalanx; phalanges</p><p><br /></p><p>In the former instance, the word is the Latin third declension index, with its genitive stem being indic- (from which we get various words having to do with pointing: indicate, indication, index finger). Indi- + -s --&gt; indics (the consonant cluster cs being represented by a separate letter, x) --&gt; index.</p><p><br /></p><p>In the latter instance, the word is the Greek third declension phalanx, with its genitive stem being phalang-. Phalang- + -s --&gt; phalangs (the consonant cluster gs being represented by a separate letter, ξ (x in Latin) --&gt; phalanx.</p><p><br /></p><p>Here ends today&#039;s Latin and Greek lesson.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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