Word Endings
Third declension adjectives follow a pattern similar to how third declension nouns are declined.
Furthermore, third declension adjectives can have several different terminations depending on the word. Some adjectives have three terminations (masculine, feminine and neuter),
while others have two (masculine/feminine and neuter), and the rest a single termination for all genders.
Example: Three Terminations
ācer, ācris, ācre (sharp, bitter)
Singular
Case |
Masculine |
Feminine |
Neuter |
nom. |
ācer |
ācris |
ācre |
gen. |
ācris |
ācris |
ācris |
dat. |
ācrī |
ācrī |
ācrī |
acc. |
ācrem |
ācrem |
ācre |
voc. |
ācer |
ācris |
ācre |
abl. |
ācrī |
ācrī |
ācrī |
Plural
Case |
Masculine |
Feminine |
Neuter |
nom. |
ācrēs |
ācrēs |
ācria |
gen. |
ācrium |
ācrium |
ācrium |
dat. |
ācribus |
ācribus |
ācribus |
acc. |
ācrēs/īs |
ācrēs/īs |
ācria |
voc. |
ācrēs |
ācrēs |
ācria |
abl. |
ācribus |
ācribus |
ācribus |
Example: Two Terminations
fortis, forte (strong)
Singular
Case |
Masculine & Feminine |
Neuter |
nom. |
fortis |
forte |
gen. |
fortis |
fortis |
dat. |
fortī |
fortī |
acc. |
fortem |
forte |
voc. |
fortis |
forte |
abl. |
fortī |
fortī |
Plural
Case |
Masculine & Feminine |
Neuter |
nom. |
fortēs |
fortia |
gen. |
fortium |
fortium |
dat. |
fortibus |
fortibus |
acc. |
fortēs/īs |
fortia |
voc. |
fortēs |
fortia |
abl. |
fortibus |
fortibus |
Example: Single Termination
While single termination adjectives only have one termination, it’s still important to note that neuter nouns retain the nominative form when used in accusative/vocative form. This rule takes precedence over
termination rules.
fēlīx (happy)
Singular
Case |
Masculine & Feminine |
Neuter |
nom. |
fēlīx |
fēlīx |
gen. |
fēlīcis |
fēlīcis |
dat. |
fēlīcī |
fēlīcī |
acc. |
fēlīcem |
fēlīx |
voc. |
fēlīx |
fēlīx |
abl. |
fēlīcī |
fēlīcī |
Plural
Case |
Masculine & Feminine |
Neuter |
nom. |
fēlīcēs |
fēlīcia |
gen. |
fēlīcium |
fēlīcium |
dat. |
fēlīcibus |
fēlīcibus |
acc. |
fēlīcēs/īs |
fēlīcia |
voc. |
fēlīcēs |
fēlīcia |
abl. |
fēlīcibus |
fēlīcibus |