SP: Lesson - 3rd Declension Adverbs

Adverb Formation

In Latin, a large number of adverbs are formed from adjectives. Depending on the group of adjectives there are two different ways to form adverbs:

• 1st/2nd Declension Adjectives add -e to the adjective base:
  • altus, alta, altum - high, deep
  • base: alt- (alta - a)
    • alt + e =
    • alte - highly, deeply
• 3rd Declensions Adjectives usually add -iter to the adjective base:
  • fortis, forte - strong
  • base: fort- (fortis - is)
    • fort + iter =
    • fortiter - strongly

Additional Formation Rules for 3rd Declension

3rd Declension adjectives with the nominative ending in -ns (base ending in -nt) will add -er to the base instead of -iter:

• ingens (gen. ingentis)
  • base = ingent- (ingentis - is)
  • ingent + er = ingenter
• innocens (gen. innocentis)
  • base = innocent- (innocentis - is)
  • innocent + er = innocenter

Finally, there is single exception to the above rules, in which only -ter is added to the base instead of -iter:

• audax (gen. audacis)
  • base = audac (audacis - is)
  • audac + ter = audacter
• The adjective audax is the only common adjective in which you will see this change. When forming an adverb from a 3rd declension adjective, the baseline is -iter.

Adverb Translation

Most, if not all, of the adverbs formed from adjectives translate as the adjective + ly:

• alte = high + ly = highly (deeply)
• fortiter = strong + ly = strongly
• ingenter = huge + ly = hugely
• audacter = bold + ly = boldly