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Re: [ASRG] 0. General - Etymology trivia: "virus"

2003-12-11 19:42:36
On Fri, 12 Dec 2003 00:51:55 +0100, Markus Stumpf observed:

I don't know if I am a "k00l VXdudez", but I had 5 years of Latin in
school and the correct plural of "virus" is "viri" (not "viruses" and
in no way "virii" ;-). The plural form was very rarely used in written
text, so some people say is doesn't have one in Latin, which is wrong.

I remember it differently. :)

The Latin "virus" is of a rare form (2nd declension neuter nouns in -us),
and begot its "us" ending probably because, in its meaning of venom, it is
cognate to the Greek "ios" = poison. Neuters of the 2nd declension have no
plural. Which would make "viruses" the correct English plural.

I am open to evidence to the contrary, of course.

- Mark


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