II. COMPOUNDS.
[158]. 1. Compounds are formed by the union of simple words. The second member usually contains the essential meaning of the compound; the first member expresses some modification of this.
2. Vowel changes often occur in the process of composition. Thus:—
a. In the second member of compounds. (See [§ 7], 1.)
b. The final vowel of the stem of the first member of the compound often appears as ĭ where we should expect ŏ or ă; sometimes it is dropped altogether, and in case of consonant stems ĭ is often inserted; as,—
signifer, standard-bearer;
tubicen, trumpeter;
magnanimus, high-minded;
mātricīda, matricide.
[159]. EXAMPLES OF COMPOUNDS.
1. Nouns:—
a) Preposition + Noun; as,—
dē-decus, disgrace;
pro-avus, great-grandfather.
b) Noun + Verb Stem; as,—