Frédéric Mistral / Poet and Leader in Provence

by Charles Alfred Downer

This represents the Latin -ator (one who). The corresponding feminine in Mistral's works has always the diminutive form -arello.

toumba, to fall.
toumbaire, toumbarello, one who falls or one who fells.
óuliva, to gather olives.
óulivaire, óulivarello, olive gatherer.
canta, to sing.
cantaire, cantarello, singer.
panié, basket.
panieraire, basket maker.
caligna, to court.
calignaire, suitor.
paternostriaire, one who is forever praying.

Like the corresponding French nouns in -eur, these nouns in -aire, as well as those in -èire, are also used as adjectives.

-aire = -arium.

The suffix sometimes represents the Latin -arium. A curious word is vejaire, meaning opinion, manner of seeing, as though there had been a Latin word videarium. It sometimes has the form jaire or chaire, through the loss of the first syllable.

-an, -ano.

This suffix is common in the Romance languages. Fihan, filial, seems to be peculiar to the Provençal.

-ànci (fem.).

This is the form corresponding to the French -ance. Abundance is in Mistral's dialect aboundànci.