An Outline of the Phonology and Morphology of Old Provençal

by C. H. Grandgent

They are generally used only adjectively, and without the definite article. In some early texts, however, tọs and sọs, preceded by the article, are used substantively.

128. (1) The primarily tonic possessives come from the longer Latin forms. Mĕus mĕum mĕi mĕos ＞ męus męu męi męus, which regularly became mięus etc. (§ [30]); an analogical form mięu is found beside mięi. In the feminine of the first person we have, instead of ✱męa, mięua and mia: the first of these two forms is evidently made up from the masculine; the second may be due partly to the analogy of mi, partly to a proclitic use of the word (§ [44], 4).[97] In the second and third persons the masculine forms are mainly, and the feminine forms partially, replaced by analogical formations based on the possessive of the first person; tŭi, sŭi, tŭa, sŭa, however, give regularly tọi tüi, sọi süi, tọa tua, sọa sua (§ [8]).

(2) The forms follow, those of the third person (which correspond exactly to those of the second) being omitted:—

		FIRST PERSON		SECOND PERSON
Sg.	{ nom.:	męus mięus	mia mięua	tęus tięus	tọa tua tięua tia
	{ obj.:	męu mięu	mia mięua	tęu tięu	tọa tua tięua tia
Pl.	{ nom.:	męi mięi mięu	mias mięuas	tọi tüi tęi tięi tięu	tọas tuas tięuas tias
	{ obj.:	męus mięus	mias mięuas	tęus tięus	tọas tuas tięuas tias

They may be used adjectively or substantively, with or without the definite article.

1. We occasionally find a neuter sg. nom. form without final -s: lo mieu.

Plural Possessor.

129. Nŏster, vŏster developed regularly after the pauper model: § [103], (1). The masculine singular nominative often took an -s: cf. § [96]; § [101], (1). Some southeastern dialects preserved the -i of nǫstri: cf. § [51], 1. Beside vǫstra we occasionally meet vǫstri, due to the analogy of feminine mi, ti, si.

		FIRST PERSON		SECOND PERSON		THIRD PERSON
Sg.	{ nom.:	nǫstre-s	nǫstra	vǫstre-s	vǫstra vǫstri	lọr lür	lọr lür
	{ obj.:	nǫstre	nǫstra	vǫstre	vǫstra vǫstri	lọr lür	lọr lür
Pl.	{ nom.:	nǫstre nǫstri	nǫstras	vǫstre	vǫstras	lọr lür	lọr lür
	{ obj.:	nǫstres	nǫstras	vǫstres	vǫstras	lọr lür	lọr lür

These forms are used adjectively or substantively, with or without the definite article.