Adjective: υς

MorphologyAdjective – -υς

• For masc/neut, the nom and acc sg have a stem ending in υ, while all other forms have a stem ending in ε
• The forms with an υ-stem take the same endings as 3rd declension -υς nouns (see 40.2.3.1)
• The forms with an ε-stem take the same endings as 3rd declension nouns like βασιλεύς (see 17.2.3.1)
• For the fem, the final υ is replaced with ει, and 1st declension endings in -α are attached (see 6.4.4.1)

fromLesson 42.1

SemanticsAdj – Regular (6 – Open vs. closed scale)

Besides being a precise way to describe adjectives of all different sorts, one may ask why we introduced the scalar interpretation of adjectives at all. Many adjectives have different senses based on the nature of the scale, particularly whether the scale is open or closed. To illustrate, the sentence Isaac’s hands are dry is ambiguous. In one reading, Isaac’s hands are currently dry and they are currently not wet. In this reading, dry has a closed scale, since a maximum amount of dryness is referred to, namely not having any liquid on it. In the second reading, Isaac’s hands have the propensity to be dry, i.e. they are not clammy. In this reading, Isaac’s hands can perpetually become drier – they can always develop more cracks. This is an open scale reading of dry because there is no limit to how dry hands can be in this sense. (It is, therefore, more accurate to speak of open or closed scale readings or senses of adjectives rather than open or closed scale adjectives.)

In Greek, δίκαιος represents an exegetically-significant example. It may mean either ‘righteous’ or ‘innocent.’ The meaning of ‘righteous’ refers to someone who is generally good morally:

• (412) Open scale (‘righteous’)
• ἦσαν δὲ δίκαιοι ἀμφότεροι ἐναντίον τοῦ θεοῦ, πορευόμενοι ἐν πάσαις ταῖς ἐντολαῖς καὶ δικαιώμασιν τοῦ κυρίου ἄμεμπτοι (Luke 1:6)

fromLesson 42.1