SP: Lesson - 3rd Declension Adjectives - Dictionary Entry

3rd Declension Adjectives - Dictionary Entry

All adjectives in Latin borrow endings from nouns: 3rd Declension Adjectives are those adjectives which are formed using 3rd declension noun endings and are listed by their nominative forms in the dictionary.

3rd Declension Adjective Termination

3rd declension adjectives are organized by termination, which is another word for endings. There are three different terminations: Triple, Double and Single. The termination of an adjective will determine how it is displayed in the dictionary - in other words, the termination determines the dictionary entry for a 3rd declension adjective.

  • Triple Termination
    • The masculine, feminine and neuter nominative singular all have different endings.
    • The dictionary lists three endings:
      • acer, acris, acre - sharp
        • acer = masculine
        • acris = feminine
        • acre = neuter
  • Double Termination
    • The masculine and feminine nominative forms are the same, but the neuter uses a different ending.
    • The dictionary lists two endings:
      • fortis, forte - brave, strong
        • fortis = masculine AND feminine
        • forte = neuter 
        • Full dictionary entry: fortis, fortis, forte
  • Single Termination
    • All three nominative forms are the same 
    • The dictionary lists just one ending:
      • audax (gen. audacis) - bold
        • audax = masculine, feminine AND neuter
        • Note: the genitive is included in parenthesis after the nominative form
        • Full dictionary entry: audax, audax, audax