Latin Suffixal Derivatives in English and Their Indo-European Ancestry [Hardcover]

This is the fullest account ever published of Latin suffixes in English. It explores the rich variety of English words formed by the addition of one or more Latin suffixes, such as -ial, -able, -ability, -ible, and -id. It traces the histories of over 3,000 words, revealing the range of derivational patterns in Indo-European, Latin, and English. It describes the different kinds of suffixes, shows how they entered English via different channels at different times, and considers the complexity of competition between native and borrowed forms. The author examines postclassical, medieval, and early modern Latin derivatives, and demonstrates that Latin is still, and likely to remain, a productive source of English words. He traces the suffixes back to their Proto-Indo-European origins and provides copious examples for every aspect of his discussion.

Professor Miller's innovative book makes an important contribution to the history of both English and Latin morphology and etymology, as well as to the history of suffixal derivation in Indo-European. It will interest scholars and students of comparative morphology, historical and comparative linguistics, etymology, and lexicography.

Aim and Coverage
Etymological Dictionaries
Citation of Indo-European Roots
Acknowledgements
Latin Sources and Periods
Dating and Other Conventions
List of Abbreviations
1. Derivation
2. Latin Non-Deverbal Nouns
3. Noun Suffixes on Verb Bases
4. Non-Deverbal Adjectives
5. Deverbal Adjectives
6. Verbal Suffixes
Dictionaries
Bibliographica Abbreviations
References
Indo-European Root Index
Greek Index
Latin Index
English Index

D. Gary Milleris Professor of Linguistics and Classics at the University of Florida. He received his Ph.D. from Harvard in 1969, with a dissertation onStudies in Some Forms of the Genitive Singular in Indo-European. As well as numerous articles on Indo-European, classical, anlC˜