Introduction
Third Declension Adjectives
Third declension adjectives are usually declined like third declension pure i-stem nouns, but the masculine and feminine adjectives have Acc. Sg. -em.
Adjectives with Two Endings
These adjectives have a common form for masculine and feminine in Nom. Sg. and a separate form for neuter.
The masculine and feminine ending is -is.
The neuter ending is -e.
Examples:
omnis, e - all, each, everyone
brevis, e - short
juvenilis, e - juvenile
levis, e - light
mollis, e - mild, soft
senilis, e - senile
sterilis, e - sterile
tenuis, e - tender, slim
Many adjectives ending in suffixes common in medicine belong to this group, especially in anatomy.
These suffixes often show relation to a body part and replace the Gen. Sg. ending of nouns.
For example: pulmo, pulmon-is becomes pulmon-alis, e and maxilla, maxilla-ae becomes maxill-aris, e.
These adjectives often retain their Latin form in English, but lose the -is, -e ending.
Adjective Suffixes
-alis, ale and -aris, are: Indicate relation to or connection with an organ or body part.
-bilis, bile: Suggests ability or possibility (e.g., inoperabilis, e meaning "(in)operable").
-formis, forme: Shows similarity and corresponds to the Greek second declension adjectives ending in -oideus, a, um.
Most were created and introduced to medical terminology in the 17th century.
Examples:
cruciformis, e - cruciform
formis, e - form
fungiformis, e - fungiform
piriformis, e - piriform
pisiformis, e - pisiform
sacciformis, e - sacciform
stabilis, e: means "(un)stable".
Adjectives with One Ending
These have a single nominative singular form for all genders.
A genitive singular ending is used as an inflection.
Nom. Sg. -ex, Gen. Sg. -icis
Examples:
simplex, icis - simple
multiplex, icis - multiple
duplex, icis - double
triplex, icis - triple
Participium Praesentis Activi
Present participles belong to the sixth group.
They end in -nt or -ing in English.