-ter
Latin
Alternative forms
- -iter
Etymology
Perhaps ultimately from the nominative masculine singular of contrastive adjectives in Proto-Indo-European *-teros, later used more generally; perhaps extended from the suffix in prepositions like inter, praeter. Cognate with Ancient Greek -τερος (-teros).
Pronunciation
- (Classical) IPA(key): /ter/, [t̪ɛr]
- (Ecclesiastical) IPA(key): /ter/, [t̪er]
Suffix
-ter (comparative -tius, superlative -tissimē)
- -ly; used to form adverbs from adjectives.
Usage notes
The suffix -ter is usually added to a third-declension adjective or participle stem to form an adverb of manner.
Adjectives with stems ending in -nt(i)- (which end in -ns in the nominative singular) form adverbs in -nter rather than in *-ntiter, such as prudenter (“intelligently, wisely”), from prudēns (“knowing, experienced”). Third-declension adjectives with stems ending in anything else generally form adverbs that end in -iter, such as celeriter (“swiftly, immediately”) from celer (“fast, swift”). The -i- before the -ter can be analyzed either as part of the suffix (dividing the word as celer-iter, where -iter is an allomorph of -ter) or as part of the adjective's stem (dividing the word as celeri-ter, where -i- is the stem-final vowel seen also in some inflected forms like the neuter nominative/accusative plural celeri-a). Alternatively, this -i- can be analyzed as a connecting vowel that comes between the stem and the suffix.[1][2]
- Further examples of regularly formed adverbs:
- dissimulanter (“dissemblingly, secretly”), from dissimulāns, present active participle of dissimulō (“dissemble, conceal”)
- adverbiāliter (“adverbially”), from adverbiālis (“adverbial”)
- fortiter (“strongly, powerfully”), from fortis (“strong, powerful”)
- nātūrāliter (“naturally”), from nātūrālis (“natural”)
- There are only a few adverbs formed without -i- from adjectives not ending in -ns:
- audācter (“boldly, audaciously, fearlessly”), from audāx (“bold, audacious, daring”)
- simulter, from similis
- faculter, difficulter, indifficulter, from facilis, difficilis
- sollerter, sōlerter, from sollers, sōlers
- inerter, from iners
The suffix -iter was sometimes added to a second-declension stem, although -ē and -ō were more commonly used in such situations.
- Examples:
- avāriter (“greedily”), from avārus (“greedy”)
- circiter (“round about”), from circus (“circle”)
- dūriter (“roughly, harshly”), from dūrus (“rough, harsh”)
Synonyms
- (-ly): -ē, -er, -ō
Descendants
- Old Occitan: -tre (possibly)
See also
References
- A Grammar of the Latin Language by C. G. Zumpt, translated by Leonhard Schmitz, Fourth Ed., 1855, page 223 "Adverbs in ter"
- Latin Suffixes, by John Tahourdin White, 1858, page 138
Welsh
Alternative forms
- -der
Etymology
From Proto-Celtic *-teros (comparative suffix[1]),[2] from Proto-Indo-European *-teros. Cognate with Cornish -ter.
Pronunciation
- (North Wales, standard, colloquial) IPA(key): /tɛr/, /dɛr/
- (North Wales, colloquial) IPA(key): /tar/, /dar/
- (South Wales) IPA(key): /tɛr/, /dɛr/
Usage notes
/tɛr/ and /dɛr/ are variants of the same suffix. /tɛr/ (phonetically [tʰɛr]) is always spelt -ter whereas /dɛr/ is represented by -ter after an unvoiced fricative (phonetically [tɛr]) and by -der after other voiced sounds (phonetically [dɛr]).
Suffix
-ter m (plural -terau)
- forming abstract nouns, -ness, -ment
- craff (“observant, astute”) + -ter → craffter (“astuteness”)
- pell (“far”) + -ter → pellter (“distance”)
- gwag (“empty”) + -ter → gwacter (“emptiness”)
Derived terms
References
- Morris Jones, John (1913) A Welsh Grammar, Historical and Comparative, Oxford: Clarendon Press, § 143 iii (9)
- R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present), “-ter”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies
Further reading
- R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present), “-ter”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies