CHAP. I. DECLENSION OF SUBSTANTIVS.
GENERAL PRELIMINARY REMARKS.
(a) On declension in general.
§ [83]. The Gothic declension, like that of the remaining Old-Germanic dialects, comprises three genders: the masculin, neuter and feminin.
Note 1. The neuter of all declensions resembls in form very closely the masculin; a distinction occurs in the nom. and acc. sg. and pl. only.
Note 2. A distinction of gender is wanting only with the personal prn. of the 1st and 2nd persons, with the reflexiv prn. ([§ 150]), and with the numeral adjectivs 4-19 ([§ 141]).
§ [84]. The Goth. declension has two numbers: singular and plural.
Note. The dual which originally existed in all Indg. languages, is preservd in the Goth. decl. in the 1st and 2nd pers. of the personal prn. only ([§ 150]).
§ [85]. The Goth. declension has four complete cases: nominativ, genitiv, dativ, accusativ. The vocativ is mostly identical with the nominativ, only in the singular of sum classes of declension the vocativ is different from the nominativ, but then it is always identical with the accusativ.
Note. The Goth. dativ represents several Indg. cases (dativ, locativ, ablativ, instrumental). Relics of the neuter instrumental ar stil present in the pronominal declension: þê ([§ 153]), ƕê ([§ 159]).
(b) On the declension of substantivs.
§ [86]. The declension of substantivs in Gothic is divided into a vocalic and a consonantal declension, according as the stems of the substantivs end in a vowel or a consonant.
Note. The original form of the stem is in part unrecognizabl in the Gothic language, because the stem has blended with the endings, final vowels hav been lost, and the like, so that the division into a vocalic and a consonantal declension appears correct only in the light of the Comparativ Indo-Germanic Grammar, and but with reference to this it must be retaind. Such a division would never hav been made from an especially Gothic-Germanic standpoint.
§ [87]. Of the consonantal stems in Gothic the n-stems (i. e. the stems in -an, -ôn, -ein), ar very numerous, while of other consonantal declensions but a few remains ar preservd ([§ 114] et seq.). Sinse the time of Jac. Grimm the n-declension has also been calld Weak Declension.
§ [88]. There ar four classes of the vocalic declension: stems in a, ô, i, u. Accordingly, we distinguish them as a-, ô-, i-, and u-declensions. The stem-characteristics ar stil clearly seen in all classes in the dat. and acc. pl.; e. g., dagam, dagans; — gibôm, gibôs; — gastim, gastins; — sunum, sununs. Sinse the time of Jacob Grimm the vocalic declension has also been calld Strong Declension.
Note 1. Of the four vocalic declensions the a- and ô-declensions ar closely connected, the a-declension containing only masculins and neuters (dags, waúrd), the ô-declension the corresponding feminins. Both classes ar therefore uzually givn as one, the a-declension.
Note 2. The Gothic a-declension corresponds to the second or o-declension in Greek and Latin (Gr. m. -ος, n. -ον; Lt. -us, -um), the Goth. ô-declension corresponds to the first or ā-declension in Gr. and Lt. Now sinse Comparativ Grammar teaches us that the Græco-Lt. vowels ar the more original ones, and that onse also the Germanic stems of the corresponding masculine and neuters must hav ended in o and those of the feminins in â, we often meet in Germanic Grammar with the term o-declension for the masculins and neuters, and with the term â-declension for the feminins.
(c) On the nominal composition.
§ [88a]. Substantivs (and adjectivs) as the first parts of compounds end as a rule in a vowel, the connecting vowel of the components (or composition-vowel), which in the case of the vocalic stems is oftenest identical with the stem-vowel. Exampls: a-decl.: figgra-gulþ, hunsla-staþs, himina-kunds, fulla-tôjis; —i-decl.: gasti-gôþs, naudi-bandi; —u-decl.: fôtu-baúrd, hardu-haírtei, filu-waúrdei.
But the connecting vowel of the o-stems is always -a; as, aírþa-kunds, hleiþra-stakeins; the -ja of ja-stems persists when the stem is a short syllabl, but it becums i when the stem is long (cp. [§ 44]); as, wadja-bôkôs, alja-kuns; arbi-numja, aglaiti-waúrdei; in like manner þûsundi-faþs, < stem in -jô-, nom. þûsundi ([§ 145]).
The n-stems hav simpl a insted of the thematic ending -an, -ôn; as, guma-kunds, fruma-baúr, wilja-halþei, qina-kunds, auga-daúrô; but mari-saiws (cp. Beitr., 8, 410).
Note 1. The composition-vowel was often dropt in Gothic, especially that of the a-stems; e. g., of a-stems: wein-drugkja (but weina-triu, weina-basi, etc.), gud-hûs, guþ-blôstreis (but guda-faúrhts, guda-laus, guþa-skaunei), laus-qiþrs, laus-handus (but lausa-waúrds), þiudan-gardi, háuh-þûhts, ain-falþs, þiu-magus (for þiwa-, [§ 91], n. 3); —of ja-stems: niuklahs (but niuja-satiþs), frei-hals, aglait-gastalds (but aglaiti-waúrdei); —of i-stems: brûþ-faþs, þut-haúrn (Beitr., 8, 411), twalib-wintrus ([§ 141]).
Note 2. Sum words show evasions of the composition-vowel: þiuþi-qiss (for þiuþa-); I. Cor. X, 16 (in Cod. A); anda-laus (for andja-); I. Tim. I, 4 (in A, but andi-laus in B); hrainja-haírts (for hraini-); Mt. V, 8; garda- in cpds. seems to be the normal form beside the stem gardi- (s. [§ 101]): garda-waldands; Mt. X, 25. Lu. XIV, 21; miþgarda-waddjus; Eph. II, 14 (in B, but midgardi-w. in A); Beitr., 8, 432. Cp. also brôþra-lubô; Rom. XII, 10 (in A, but brôþru-lubô; I. Thess. IV, 9, in B).—The evasions occur mostly in Codex A and seem to be yunger East-Gothic forms; cp. the names in the Documents (e. g., Gudi-lub, in Ar. Doc.; Sunjai-friþas, in Neap. Doc.), and Wrede, 'Ostg.', 184.
Note 3. Beside the other consonantal stems there occur: brôþru-lubô ([§ 114]); cp. the preceding note; baúrgs-waddjus, a genitiv-composition ([§ 116]); nahta-mats ([§ 116]); beside mann- ([§ 117]) the stem mana- is found: mana-sêþs, mana-maúrþrja, unmana-riggws; and (probably according to note 1) man-leika.—sigis-laun and þruts-fill, which belong to old s-stems (s. [§ 94], n. 5.—Leo Meyer, Got. Spr., p. 174), may (by loss of a, according to note 1) also refer to a-stems.
Note 4. For more about the cpds. in Gothic, s. Beitr., 8, 371-460; Brgm., II, 73 et seq.; Wrede, 'Ostg.', 183 et seq.
A. VOCALIC (STRONG) DECLENSION.
1. (a) A-Declension.
§ [89]. The Gothic a-declension contains only masculins and neuters. We distinguish between pure a-stems and ja-stems.
Note. The wa-stems in Gothic differ but very litl from the pure a-stems. Their number is very small ([§ 91], n. 3; [§ 93]; [§ 94], n. 1).
Masculins.
§ [90]. Paradims of the masculins. (a) Pure a-stems: dags, day (< an erlier *dagaz, proethnic Germanic *dago-z, [§ 88], n. 2); hlaifs, (loaf of) bred (proethnic Germanic *hlaibo-z). (b) ja-stems: haírdeis, herdsman (proethnic Germanic *herdio-z); harjis, army (proethnic Germanic *hario-z).
| Sing. | N. | dags | hlaifs | haírdeis | harjis |
| G. | dagis | hlaibis | haírdeis | harjis | |
| D. | daga | hlaiba | haírdja | harja | |
| A. | dag | hlaif | haírdi | hari | |
| V. | dag | hlaif | haírdi | hari | |
| Plur. | A. | dagôs | hlaibôs | haírdjôs | harjôs |
| G. | dagê | hlaibê | haírdjê | harjê | |
| D. | dagam | hlaibam | haírdjam | harjam | |
| A. | dagans | hlaibans | haírdjans | harjans |
§ [91]. Like dags decline many masculins; as, stains, stone; skalks, servant; tains, twig; himins, heven; fisks, fish; wigs, way; wulfs, wolf; fugls, bird (fowl); aiþs (gen. aiþis), oath.
hlaifs shows the hardening of the medial soft spirant when becuming final (cp. [§§ 56]. [79]). So does laufs (nom. pl. laubôs), leaf.
Note 1. The declension of these masculins is identical with that of the masculin i-stems (100) in the hole sg. and in the gen. pl. Only the nom., acc., and dat. pl. can show to which declension they belong. Consequently, a number of masculins which ar not found in those pl. cases cannot with certainty be classified. The testimony of the other Germanic languages, however, wil in many cases enable us to decide. Thus akrs, field; mêgs, sun-in-law; maúrgins, morning; snaiws, snow; maiþms, present, etc., belong to the a-decl.
Note 2. Words which ar not found in the nom. sg. nor in the nom. acc. pl., may be neuter. Thus the nom. to the isolated gen. akeitis (vinegar) may be both akeits and akeit, that to the dat. staþa (shore) both staþs and staþ. Sum of such words ar undoutedly m., as is evident from the adjs. which modify them, or from the cognate dialects; e. g., slêps, sleep; wôkrs, uzury; aúhns, oven; tweifls, dout; môþs, anger (gen. môdis, [§ 74]).
Note 3. According to the rules for final w ([§ 42]), þius and þiu ar givn, respectivly, as the nom. and voc. sg. to the nom. pl. þiwôs (servants), gen. þiwê—the only forms found. Cp. þiu-magus, servant, [§ 88a], n. 1.
Note 4. According to [§ 78], n. 2, the s of the nom. sg. is dropt in *ans (dat. anza), beam; *hals (halsis), neck; freihals, liberty; *ams (acc. pl. amsans), shoulder: waír, man; *gabaúr (n. pl. gabaúrôs), festiv meal; kaisar, emperor, Cæsar; stiur, steer (Neh. 5, 18; cp. Zs. fda., 37, 319).
Note 5. wêgs, wave (nom. pl. wêgôs, but dat. pl. wêgim); aiws, time (dat. pl. aiwam, acc. pl. aiwins), show a tendency to merge into the i-decl.
§ [92]. The ja-stems ar subject to the rules concerning the contraction of the ji into ei (s. [§ 44], c and n. 1), according to which there is a distinction between the words with long and those with short stem-syllabls. Further exampls: (a) long-stemd and trisyllabic (polysyllabic): asneis, hired man; andeis, end; ƕaiteis, wheat; sipôneis, disciple; the words in -areis (Kluge, Stammbildung, [§§ 8]. [9]; ahd. gr., [§ 200]): laisareis, teacher; bôkareis, scribe, etc. (b) short stems: niþjis, cuzin; *andastaþjis, adversary.
Note 1. andeis, end, has in Rom. X, 18 the acc. pl. according to the i-decl.: andins.
Note 2. Only in the pl. occurs: bêrusjôs, parents ([§ 33]).
Note 3. The acc. pl. hlijans (Mk. IX, 5) suggests the nom. sg. *hleis (like freis, [§ 126], n. 2), tent. Cp. Zimmer, QF., 13, 308.
Note 4. A nom. pl. silbawiljôs, adj. uzed as sb. (nom. sg. *silba-wiljis, willing of one's self; cp. gawiljis, [§ 126]), occurs in II. Cor. VIII, 3.
Neuters.
§ [93]. Paradims. (a) pure a-stems: waúrd, word; haubiþ, hed. (b) wa-stems: triu, tree. (c) ja-stems: kuni, kin.
| Sing. | N. | waúrd | haubiþ | triu | kuni |
| G. | waúrdis | haubidis | triwis | kunjis | |
| D. | waúrda | haubida | triwa | kunja | |
| A. | waúrd | haubiþ | triu | kuni | |
| Plur. | N. | waúrda | haubida | triwa | kunja |
| G. | waúrdê | haubidê | triwê | kunjê | |
| D. | waúrdam | haubidam | triwam | kunjam | |
| A. | waúrda | haubida | triwa | kunja |
§ [94]. Like waúrd ar declined a very great number of neuter nouns; e. g., blôþ, blôþis, blud; gulþ, gold; juk, yoke; jêr, year; haúrn, horn; sauil, sun; silubr, silver; agis, fear; sáir, sorrow; maúrþr, murder; gras, grasis, grass.
Exampls of words, like haubiþ, with a final hard sound for a medial soft spirant: dius, diuzis, animal; hatis, hatred; riqis, darkness ([§ 78], n. 1); liuhaþ, liuhadis, light; witôþ, law.
Note 1. According to [§ 42], the final w of wa-stems becums u after a short vowel. There occur two words of this kind: the paradim triu (weina-triu, vine) and *kniu, kniwis, knee. No change after a long vowel; as, lêw, opportunity; fraiw, seed.
Note 2. According to [§ 91], n. 2, it is doutful whether sum words ar m. or n. The reasons givn there permit us to class words like þaúrp, field; maþl, market, with the neuters; doutful ar the forms dal, dale (cp. ON. dalr), lun, ransom (or lûns, cp. [§ 15], n. 1).
Note 3. The word guþ, which is neuter in form, is uzed as m. when denoting the Christian God. But the n. pl. guda (heathen) gods (cp. [§ 74], n. 4), is stil uzed. The inflection of the sg. is uncertain, because only abbreviated forms ([§ 1], n. 4) occur: gþ, gþs, gþa. As ful forms ar givn: nom. acc. guþ, gen. guþs, dat. guþa, tho we should expect the gen. gudis, dat. guda. If the gen. form guþs is correct, the word guþ would belong to the consonantal stems ([§ 114] et seq.).—In composition guda- and guþa-; s. [§ 88a], n. 1.
Note 4. fadrein, 'paternity', in the sense of 'parents', may be uzed as an indeclinabl pl. with the art.: þai fadrein, þans fadrein. But also the regular neuter pl. fadreina occurs in the sense of 'parents'. The fem. fadreins, lineage, family, is a separate word ([§ 103]).—Cp. J. Schmidt, 'Indog. Neutra', 14.
Note 5. The gen. of hatis, hatred, occurs onse (in cod. B) as hatis (a consonantal form); Eph. II, 3 (hatizê in A). For a different view, s. Wrede, 'Ostg.', 77.—Concerning the neuters in -is, s. v. Bahder, 'Verbalabstracta', 52 et seq.; Kluge, Stammbild., [§§ 84]. [145]; Brgm., II, 419 et seq. Cp. also [§ 78], n. 3.
§ [95]. Like kuni ar declined both short and long ja-stems; e. g., badi, bed; nati, net; faírguni, mountain; gawi, gaujis, province ([§ 42], n. 2); taui, tôjis, deed ([§ 26]); reiki, reikjis, kingdom; arbi, arbjis, inheritance; galigri, consummation of marriage; gawaúrki, business; garûni, counsel; andwaírþi, presence.
Note 1. Beside -jis a contracted gen. in -eis (cp. [§ 44], c; [§ 92]) is found in but a few long and short stems; as, trausteis (nom. trausti, cuvenant); Eph. II, 12; andbahti, office, has the gen. andbahtjis (3 times) beside andbahteis (onse); Lu. I, 23; gawaírþi, peace, has gawaírþjis (6 times), gawaírþeis (3 times); waldufni, power, has waldufneis (Skeir., 49) beside waldufnjis (twice).
1. (b) Ô-Declension.
§ [96]. The Gothic ô-declension contains only feminins which serv as a supplement to the a-decl. ([§ 88], n. 1). Also here we distinguish between pure ô-stems and jô-stems.
Paradims: (a) giba, gift (stem gibô-). (b) long jô-stems: bandi, bond (stem bandjô-); mawi, girl (stem maujô-).
| Sing. | N. giba | bandi | mawi |
| G. gibôs | bandjôs | maujôs | |
| D. gibai | bandjai | maujai | |
| A. giba | bandja | mauja | |
| Plur. | N. gibôs | bandjôs | maujôs |
| G. gibô | bandjô | maujô | |
| D. gibôm | bandjôm | maujôm | |
| A. gibôs | bandjôs | maujôs |
§ [97]. Like giba ar declined a great many words; as, bida, request; þiuda, peple; hansa, multitude; saiwala, soul; stibna, voice; aírþa, erth; ƕeila, hour; wamba, belly; mildiþa, mercy; aƕa, water.
Note 1. The declension of the wô- and short jô-stems is identical with that of giba; e. g., triggwa, cuvenant; bandwa, sign; —sunja, truth; halja, hel; sibja, relationship; wrakja, persecution; plapja, street.
Note 2. The acc. sg. of ƕeila before the enclitic -hun is found as ƕeilô- in ƕeilôhun; s. [§ 163], n. 1 (as regards the form, cp. ainôhun, [§ 163], c; ƕarjôh, [§ 165]).
§ [98]. Like bandi go the long and polysyllabic jô-stems. Their inflection is the same as that of giba, except in the nom. and voc. sg. which hav i insted of ja.—Further exampls: þiudangardi, kingdom; ƕôftuli, glory; *haiþi, field, heath; *wasti, garment; *frijôndi, f., frend; *fraistubni, temptation.
Note 1. Like mawi (for the change of w into u, s. [§ 42]), whose inflection corresponds to that of bandi, inflects also þiwi, þiujôs, maid-servant.
2. I-Declension.
§ [99]. The i-declension contains only masculins and feminins. Both genders properly ought to inflect precisely alike. But this is the case in the pl. only, while the sg. of the masculins has the gen. and dat. after the analogy of the a-declension.
Masculins.
§ [100]. Paradim: balgs, wine-skin (proethnic Germanic balgi-z).
| Sing. | N. | balgs | Plur. | N. | balgeis |
| G. | balgis | G. | balgê | ||
| D. | balga | D. | balgim | ||
| A. | balg | A. | balgins | ||
| V. | balg |
§ [101]. The number of masculins inflecting like balgs is not very great; e. g., gasts, guest; gards, house; muns, thought; mats, meat, food; saggws, song; sauþs, saudis, sacrifice; brûþ-faþs (d), bridegroom; staþs (d), sted, place.
Note 1. Words not occurring in the nom., dat., acc. pl. can not with certainty be referd to this declension (cp. [§ 91], n. 1). In many cases, however, we can infer from the remaining Germanic languages to what declension they belong. Accordingly, the word saiws, sea, lake, belongs here; and, particularly, a number of verbal abstracts like qums, arrival; drus, fall; wlits, face; runs (gen. runis), a running; grêts, weeping; krusts, gnashing.
Note 2. The s of the nom. is dropt according to [§ 78], n. 2; e. g., ur-runs, ur-runsis; drus, drusis; baúr, baúris (< baíran, to bear), sun.
Note 3. naus, a ded person, is explaind according to the rules for w ([§ 42]); nom. pl. naweis, acc. pl. nawins; so, also, the acc. and voc. sg. nau.
Note 4. For wêgs and aiws, s. [§ 91], n. 5; for the acc. pl. andins, s. [§ 92], n. 1.
Feminins.
§ [102]. Paradim: ansts, favor (proethnic Germanic ansti-z).
| Sing. | N. | ansts | Plur. | N. | ansteis |
| G. | anstais | G. | anstê | ||
| D. | anstai | D. | anstim | ||
| A. | anst | A. | anstins | ||
| V. | anst |
§ [103]. A great number of feminins belong to this class. Exampls: qêns, woman, wife; dails, deal; wêns, hope; nauþs, nauþais, need; siuns, sight; sôkns, serch; taikns, token; fahêþs, fahêdais, joy; magaþs (þ), maid; fadreins, generation, family; arbaiþs (d), work; asans, harvest; ahaks, duv; those in -duþs, -duþais (perhaps -dûþs; cp. [§ 15], n. 1): mikilduþs, greatness; managduþs, abundance; ajukduþs, eternity; gamainduþs, communion.
Very numerous ar the verbal abstracts which may be formd from every strong verb by means of the dental suffix t (þ, d); e. g., gaskafts, creation; þaúrfts, need; ganists, salvation; fralusts, loss; gakusts, test; gabaúrþs, birth; gataúrþs, destruction; manasêþs (d), world; dêþs, deed; gahugds, thought.
Note 1. Here belong also the abstracts in -eins, -ôns, -ains, derived from the weak verbs of the I., II., and III. Weak Conjugations, respectivly; e. g., naseins (< nasjan), salvation; laiseins, doctrin; háuheins, a 'heightening', hense praise; galaubeins, belief; naiteins, blasfemy; laþôns (< laþôn), invitation; salbôns, salv, ointment; mitôns, consideration; þulains (< þulan), suffering, patience; libains, life.—But those in -eins hav the nom. and gen. pl. according to the ô-declension. Thus, for exampl:
| Sing. | N. | naiteins | G. | naiteinais | D. | naiteinai | A. V. | naitein |
| Plur. | N. | naiteinôs | G. | naiteinô | D. | naiteinim | A. | naiteinins. |
So in one exampl also the dat. pl.: unkaúreinôm; II. Cor. XI, 8.—The pl. of the abstracts in -ôns, -ains is regular: mitôneis, mitônê, etc.
Note 2. Whether words ar f. or m. is doutful when they do not occur in a distinctiv case; as, lists, craftiness; fulleiþs (or fulleiþ, n.), fulness.
Note 3. The s of the nom. is dropt according to [§ 78], n. 2; e. g., us-stass, us-stassais, resurrection; garuns, -runsais, street.
Note 4. haims, village, forms its pl. according to the ô-declension: haimôs, etc.
3. U-Declension.
Masculins and Feminins.
§ [104]. The masculins and feminins of the u-declension ar identical in form. Paradim: sunus, sun.
| Sing. | N. | sunus | Plur. | N. | sunjus |
| G. | sunáus | G. | suniwê | ||
| D. | sunáu | D. | sunum | ||
| A. | sunu | A. | sununs | ||
| V. | sunu |
§ [105]. Further exampls: (a) masculins; e. g., áirus, messenger; asilus, ass; dauþus, deth; wulþus, glory; hûhrus, hunger; þaúrnus, thorn; haírus, sword; liþus, lim; lustus, lust; magus, boy; faírƕus, world; fôtus, foot; stubjus, dust; wrêþus, flock ([§ 7], n. 3); in -assus (Kluge, Stammbildg., [§ 137] et seq.): draúhtinassus, warfare; ibnassus, evenness; þiudinassus, kingdom; in -ôdus, -ôþus (Kluge, Stammbildg., [§ 134]); e. g., auhjôdus, tumult; gabaúrjôþus, plezure.
(b) The only feminins ar certainly only handus, hand; kinnus, cheek; waddjus, wall (cp. Beitr., 16, 3181), and perhaps asilus (if ὄνου in Lu. XIX, 30. Joh. XII, 15, means she-ass).
The gender of sum is doutful; as, qaírnus, mil; flôdus, flud; luftus, air.
Note 1. Foren words like aggilus, angel; sabbatus, sabbath, fluctuate in the pl. between the u- and i-decl.; s. [§ 120], n. 1.
Note 2. There is a notewurthy fluctuation between u and au (aú? cp. [§ 24], n. 4) in the terminations of the sing. All cases of this kind hav been collected by Leo Meyer in his 'Got. Spr.', p. 574. au occurs for u: nom. sunaus; Lu. IV, 3; faírƕaus; Gal. VI, 14 (in cod. B = faírƕus in cod. A); Bartimaiaus; Mt. X, 46; —acc. handau; Mk. VII, 32; þiudinassau; Lu. IX, 27; haírau; Rom. XIII, 4 (in A = haíru in Cod. Car.); —voc. sunau (often), magau; Lu. II, 48.
Reversely we find u for au: gen. dauþus; Lu. I, 79; wulþus; Rom. IX, 23; apaustaulus; II. Cor. XII, 12 (in A = apaustaulaus in B); dat. wulþu; Lu. IX, 26; Paítru; Gal. II, 7 (in A = Paítrau in B).
From the great number of exampls, however, we infer that the abuv paradim is by all means the regular one; the deviations just mentiond ar merely owing to confusion on the part of later copyists. When a word occurs in two manuscripts, it generally has the correct form in one. Especially in Cod. Amb. A and in the gospel of Lu. the u-decl. is confused in this way. Cp. Beitr., 18, 2801.
Neuters.
§ [106]. The word faíhu, muney (orig. 'catl', = OHG. fihu) is the only neuter sb. of this class which occurs in several cases in the singular. No n. pl. is found.
| N. | faíhu |
| G. | [faíháus] |
| D. | faíháu |
| A. | faíhu |
Note 1. Also gairu, sting, is n. It occurs only in the nom. sg. (II. Cor. XII, 7 in A, as a gloss to hnûþô).—The sb. leiþu, fruit-wine, probably belongs here too; only the acc. sg. leiþu occurs (Lu. I, 15); cp. Gallée ([§ 223], n. 1), I, p. 38.—The acc. sg. sihu, a gloss to the neuter sigis, victory, in Cod. B I. Cor. XV, 57, is probably miswritn for sigu (because the i in sihu would hav becum aí) which may also belong to a masculin (nom. sg. *sigus = OHG. sigu). But cp. J. Schmidt, 'Idg. Neutra', 153.
Note 2. The gen. faíháus has been inferd from the m. (f.) and from the adv. gen. filaus ([§ 131], n. 3).
B. N-DECLENSION (WEAK DECLENSION).
1. Masculins.
§ [107]. Paradim: guma, man.
| Sing. | N. | guma | Plur. | N. | gumans |
| G. | gumins | G. | gumanê | ||
| D. | gumin | D. | gumam | ||
| A. | guman | A. | gumans |
§ [108]. Like guma inflect a great many masculins; e. g., staua, judge; hana, cock; skula, detter; mêna, moon; atta, father; ahma, spirit; blôma, flower; milhma, cloud; hliuma, hearing; weiha, priest; swaíhra, father-in-law; magula, litl boy; pl. brôþrahans, brothers (J. Schmidt, 'Idg. Neutra', 16); —bandja, prisoner; haúrnja, trumpeter; fiskja, fisher; timrja, carpenter; arbja, heir; wilja, wil; manamaúrþrja, (man-)murderer; waúrstwja, workman.
Note 1. aba, man, has the gen. pl. abnê, dat. pl. abnam; of aúhsa, ox, occurs the gen. pl. aúhsnê. Cp. the neuters in [§ 110], n. 1. Onse (I. Cor. IX, 9) we meet with the acc. pl. aúhsununs which either stands for aúhsuns (according to [§ 80], n. 1; cp. Anz. fda. 6, 120) or for aúhsnuns (Beitr., 8, 115; 12, 543; Brgm., I, 203).
Note 2. The long stems in -ja do not contract the ji of the gen. and dat. sg. into ei (s. [§ 44], n. 1); hense, bandja, gen. bandjins, dat. bandjin.
2. Neuters.
§ [109]. Paradim: haírtô, hart.
| Sing. | N. | haírtô | Plur. | N. | haírtôna |
| G. | haírtins | G. | haírtanê | ||
| D. | haírtin | D. | haírtam | ||
| A. | haírtô | A. | haírtôna |
§ [110]. Like haírtô inflect but few substantivs: augô, ey; ausô, ear; barnilô, litl child; auga-daúrô, window; þaírkô, hole, ear of a needl; kaúrnô, corn; sigljô, seal. Cp. J. Schmidt, 'Indog. Neutra', 106 et seq.
Also the weak adjectivs ([§ 132]).
Note 1. Irregular forms occur in the pl. of the neuters namô, name, and watô, water. The sg. inflects like haírtô. Paradim:
| Sing. | N. | namô | G. | namins | D. | namin | A. | namô |
| Plur. | N. | namna | G. | namnê | D. | namnam | A. | namna. |
The pl. of watô occurs only in the dat. watnam. Cp. [§ 108], n. 1.
Note 2. To the dat. sg. sunnin which occurs (twice) in the frase: at sunnin urrinnandin (Mk. IV, 6. XVI, 2), belongs perhaps a neuter sunnô (not a m. sunna), beside the f. sunnô, sun ([§ 112]).—Cp. Mahlow, 'Die langen vocale a, e, o', p. 156, and Sievers' comments on this in the appendix to the 3d G. edition of this grammar.
Note 3. The word gajukô which was formerly regarded as n., is f., 'a female cumpanion'. Cp. Bernhardt's 'Vulfila', comment on Phil. IV, 3.
3. Feminins.
§ [111]. The feminins of the n-declension ar divided into two classes: stems in -ôn- and -ein-. Their inflection is the same. Paradims: tuggô, tung; managei, multitude.
| Sing. | N. | tuggô | managei |
| G. | tuggôns | manageins | |
| D. | tuggôn | managein | |
| A. | tuggôn | managein | |
| Plur. | N. | tuggôns | manageins |
| G. | tuggônô | manageinô | |
| D. | tuggôm | manageim | |
| A. | tuggôns | manageins |
§ [112]. Like tuggô inflect many substantivs; as, qinô, woman, wife; ûhtwô, dawn; swaíhrô, mother-in-law; azgô, ashes; gatwô, street; staírnô, star; wikô, week; sunnô, sun (cp. [§ 110], n. 2); —arbjô, heiress; brunjô, brestplate; tainjô, basket; niþjô, female cuzin; raþjô, account.
Note 1. Also the feminins of the weak adjectivs inflect like tuggô ([§ 132]).
§ [113]. Nearly all substantivs inflecting like managei ar derived from adjectivs. Such an abstract in -ei may be formd from every adjectiv, hense the great number of these words; e. g., diupei, depth; laggei, length; bleiþei, mercy; mikilei, greatness; braidei, bredth; frôdei, wisdom; hardu-haírtei, hard-hartedness; drugkanei, drunkenness; sum can not be referd to corresponding adjs., but they likewise denote a state; e. g., þaúrstei, thirst; magaþei, maidenhood. But very few hav a concrete meaning; as, aiþei, mother; þramstei, locust; kilþei, womb; marei, sea; ƕaírnei, skul.
Note 1. There is a close resemblance between adjectival abstracts in -ei and the verbal abstracts in -eins (cp. [§ 103], n. 1); e. g., háuhei, height (< háuhs), but háuheins, a heightening, praise (< háuhjan). Both hav the acc. sg. háuhein.
In one case there is confusion. In Jo. X, 33 we meet with a gen. sg. wajamêreins (nom. wajamêreins, blasfemy) from which it is customary to infer a nom. wajamêrei, tho in its meaning such a form is impossibl.
Note 2. In Cod. B. three nominativs sg. in -ein ar found: liuhadein, illumination; II. Cor. IV, 4 (liuhadeins in A; comp. this passage in Bernhardt's 'Vulfila'); wiljahalþein, favor; Col. III, 25 (wanting in A); gagudein, piety; I. Tim. IV, 8 (gagudei in A).
Note 3. The comparativs, the superlativs in -ma, and the prs. participls form their feminin like managei (cp. [§ 132], n. 4).
C. MINOR DECLENSIONS.
(REMAINS OF CONSONANTAL DECLENSIONS.)
§ [114]. Nouns in -r denoting relationship. The words brôþar, brother; daúhtar, daughter; swistar, sister; fadar, father, hav replaced their old consonantal inflection in the nom., acc., and dat. pl. with the forms of the u-declension ([§ 104]). Paradim:
| Sing. | N. | brôþar | Plur. | brôþrjus |
| G. | brôþrs | brôþrê | ||
| D. | brôþr | brôþrum | ||
| A. | brôþar | brôþruns |
Note. Cp. the cpd. brôþru-lubô, brotherly luv ([§ 88]^a, n. 3; [§ 210], n. 1).
§ [115]. The present participls in Gothic inflect like weak adjectivs ([§ 133]). An older (substantival) inflection, however, persists with sum participls uzed substantivly. Paradim: nasjands, savior.
| Sing. | N. | nasjands | Plur. | nasjands |
| G. | nasjandis | nasjandê | ||
| D. | nasjand | nasjandam | ||
| A. | nasjand | nasjands | ||
| V. | nasjand | — |
Furthermore: fijands, fiend; frijônds, frend (> frijôndi, [§ 98]), daupjands, the Baptist; mêrjands, preacher; bisitands, neighbor; talzjands, teacher; -waldands, ruler (all-w., the Almighty; garda-w., master of the house); fraweitands, avenger; fraujinônds, ruler; midumônds, mediator; gibands, giver. Cp. Zs. fdph., 5, 315.
§ [116]. A number of feminins following in sum cases the i-decl. (ansts, [§ 102]) appear in others as short forms which ar remains of an old consonantal inflection. Paradim: baúrgs, (burg), town, city.
| Sing. | N. | baúrgs | Plur. | N. | baúrgs |
| G. | baúrgs | G. | baúrgê | ||
| D. | baúrg | D. | baúrgim | ||
| A. | baúrg | A. | baúrgs |
Like baúrgs inflect also alhs, templ; spaúrds, race-course; brusts, brest; dulþs, feast; waíhts, thing; miluks, milk; mitaþs (d), mezure.
The word nahts, night, inflects in the sg. like baúrgs, in the pl. only the dat. nahtam is found. Cp. nahta-mats, [§ 88a], n. 3.
Note 1. waíhts and dulþs chiefly follow the i-declension; hense, g. sg. waíhtais, dulþais. According to the cons. declension occur onse each the dat. sg. dulþ and acc. pl. waíhts. Beside waíhts there is a n. nom. sg. waíht in the combination ni-waíht, nothing.
§ [117]. Masculins with short (consonantal) cases: manna, man; mênôþs, month; reiks, ruler; weitwôds, witness (cp. [§ 74], n. 2). But in point of inflection they ar not fully alike.
(1) manna follows in sum cases the n-decl. (guma, [§ 107]). These cases ar here put in Italics:
| Sing. | N. | manna | Plur. | N. | mans, mannans |
| G. | mans | G. | mannê | ||
| D. | mann | D. | mannam | ||
| A. | mannan | A. | mans, mannans |
Note 1. To manna belongs the cpd. *alamans (all men), found in the dat. pl. alamannam (Skeir.) only; also the neuter gaman (cumpanion, cumpany) which inflects, however, in all the extant forms (nom. acc. sg. gaman, dat. sg. gamana, dat. pl. gamanam) precisely like waúrd ([§ 93]).
Note 2. In composition the stem mana- (man-) appears; s. [§ 88a], n. 3.
(2) mênôþs and reiks follow in the g. sg. the a-decl.: mênôþis, reikis, but in the dat. sg. the short forms mênôþ and reik (Eph. II, 2) occur. In the nom. acc. pl. the short forms mênôþs and reiks ar uzed; gen. pl. reikê. In the dat. pl. mênôþum, but reikam.—Beside the nom. sg. weitwôds there occur the acc. sg. weitwôd and the g. pl. weitwôdê.
Note 3. The g. sg. mênôþis (Neh. VI, 15) is not quite certain; Löbe red mênôþs.
Note 4. Here belongs also the nom. bajôþs, dat. bajôþum, both (s. [§ 140], n. 1).
§ [118]. The neuter fôn, fire, has this form in the nom. acc. sg., but funins in the gen., and funin in the dat.—No plural occurs. Cp. [§ 12], n. 3.
Note 1. Concerning the neuter genitivs guþs and hatis, s. [§ 94], n. 3, and [§ 94], n. 5, respectivly.
APPENDIX.
DECLENSION OF FOREN WORDS.
§ [119]. A number of foren words from the Latin and Greek wer fully adopted into the Gothic language thru commercial and political intercourse, so that their inflection is the same as that of purely Gothic words; e. g., pund, n., pound; marikreitus, m., perl; Krêks, m., Greek; karkara, f., 'carcer'; alêw, n., oil; kaisar, m., Cæsar.
§ [120]. A second portion of foren words wer at a later period forced on the Gothic language by Christianity and especially by the version of the Bible. To these belong for the most part proper nouns which ar stil felt to be foren elements and hav but imperfectly adopted the Gothic inflection. For their treatment in Gothic no fixt rules can be givn. Sumtimes they retain their Greek inflection, sumtimes they take either similar or arbitrarily formd case-endings.—Cp. Bernhardt's 'Vulfila', p. XXVIII, and especially M. H. Jellinek, 'Beitr. zur erklärung der german. flexion' (Berlin 1891), pp. 76-84.
Note 1. Most consistent is the treatment of the Gr. masculins in -ος, Lt. -us, which inflect in Gothic according to the u-decl. ([§§ 104], [105]); e. g., Paítrus, Barþaúlaúmaius, Teitus, aípiskaúpus, ἐπίσκοπος; apaústaúlus, ἀπόστολος; aggilus, ἄγγελος; sabbatus, sabbath. But only in the sg. pl. forms follow mostly the i-decl.; e. g., apaústaúleis, sabbatins, aggileis, aggilê beside aggiljus.
Note 2. Greek case-endings ar retaind in the neuters alabalstraún, ἀλάβαστρον; praitôriaún, πραιτώριον, etc.; Israêleitês has the nom. pl. Israêleitai = Ἰσραηλῖται; Rom. IX, 4; or (with Gothic inflection) Israêleiteis; II. Cor. XI, 22.
Note 3. The following exampl may illustrate arbitrary inflection. The Gr. ἐπιστολή is represented in Goth. by aípistaúlê (nom. sg.). But the dat. sg. is aípistaúlein, the dat. pl. aípistaúlêm, and the acc. pl. aípistaúlans.