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Latin - Verb to Noun Via Suffixes

Some endings for nouns formed from verbs in Latin

By N.S. Gill, About.com

  • For agents or doers of actions the following suffixes are added to verb stems -tor, -trix.
    Example: to the stem vic (from the verb vinco, conquer), add "tor" to get "victor."
  • For nouns showing activity or condition, add -or to the verb stem.
    Example: to the stem tim (from the verb timeo fear) add "or" to get "timor" (fear).
  • To show an act or the result of an act, add the suffixes -io, -tio, -tus to the verb stem.
    Example: to the stem coniura (from the verb coniuro, conspire) add "tio" to get coniuratio (conspiracy).
  • To show an act or something connected with an act, add -es, -tura, -(t)ium to the verb stem.
    Example: to the stem caed (from the verb caedo, kill) add "es" to get caedes (murder or slaughter).
  • To show means of instument, add -men, -mentum, -bulum, -(c)ulum, -brum, -crum, -trum to the verb stem.
    Example: to the stem no (from the verb nosco, know) add "men" to get nomen. The name or "nomen" provides of means of knowing.
Source: A Manual of Latin Word Formation, by Paul R. Jenks, Boston 1912.

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