Knowledge

Plural form of words ending in -us

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1096:
Novum viri computatorii genus nomine Code Red in praesenti in Interreti grassatur, ut nuntiavit institutum SANS, cuius est securitati retis informatici providere. Code Red II, quod per cursum electronicum diffunditur, priore viro acerbius est et, postquam in servitoria penetravit, in systema lacunam
342:
were over-represented. As the distribution of Internet users shifted to be more representative of the population as a whole during the 2000s, the non-standard forms saw decline in usage. A tendency towards prescriptivism in the computer enthusiast community, combined with the growing awareness that
545:
In life sciences, "viruses" generally refers to several distinct strains or species of virus. "Virus" is used in the original way as an uncountable mass noun, e.g. "a vial of virus". Individual, physical particles are called
1097:
facit. Ita fieri potest, ut alia vira eaque etiam periculosiora in machinas computatorias irrepant. Iam vermis Code Red I molestissimus fuit, cum biduo in trecenta milia computatrorum in omni orbe terrarum invasit."
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community, who researched the issue and wrote what eventually became referred to in various online discussions as the authoritative essay on the subject, favoring
365:, denoting something uncountable. These pluralize only under special circumstances, and no plural form of the word can be found in contemporary texts. 817:
as the plural, but in practice this form is hardly attested outside of discussions about pluralization. In scientific contexts, biologists often use
1043: 334:
was always a small percentage of the English-speaking population, the variation was notable because it coincided with the growth of the
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having prior claim to that name—though the common plural is "Priuses". Conversely, Toyota has also said that the plural of their
456: 285:"table of contents"; since it is not a classical word, some argue that it does not have a classical plural. However, the form 713: 307:. In most speaking communities, this is non-controversial and speakers would not attempt to use the non-standard plural in - 102:
Some English words of Latin origin do not commonly take the Latin plural, but rather the regular English plurals in -(e)s:
1241: 1304: 1067: 407:, a plural form is necessary in order to express the modern concept of 'viruses', leading to the following declension: 1205: 515:
could be construed as a claim of superior knowledge of language when in fact more detailed research finds the native
805:; the word is etymologically Greek despite its Latinized ending, and so pluralizing it as if it were Latin (i.e. as 747: 17: 1291: 1092:
Nuntii Latini: Finnish Broadcasting Company (Radiophonia Finnica Generalis). Archiv I. 19.5.2000 - 6.12.2002
499:
within Internet communities has met with some resistance, most notably by Tom Christiansen, a figure in the
1317: 53:. There are many exceptions, some because the word does not derive from Latin, and others due to custom ( 608: 311:. However, in computer enthusiast circles in the late 20th century and early 21st, the non-standard 1357: 695: 92: 1063: 96: 1217: 969: 1329: 1047: 1280:"Toyota decrees the plural of 'Prius' is 'Prii,' your Latin teacher looks on admonishingly" 8: 1106: 1052:. Translated by Côté, Emma. Cincinnati: Moore, Anderson, Wilstach & Keys. p. 48. 859:
is popularly used as both singular and plural, and is cited as both singular and plural.
944: 178: 641: 175: 1201: 1184: 1091: 940: 895: 373: 201: 31: 1305:
Breaking Minds and Spirits Everywhere, Lexus Says the Plural of 'Lexus' Is 'Lexus'
842: 778: 524: 358: 384:) are rare enough that inferring rules is difficult. (One rare attested plural, 335: 320: 644:. (The long "ū" is not used in the 2nd declension.) Rather, it is (Latinized) 580: 568: 1351: 905: 645: 197: 1124:
David & Charles, third edition, 1983. Quote: "Virus: virus (s.n. II),
829:, but laypersons and scientists alike often use the simple English plural 927: 511:. The impetus of this discussion was the potential irony that the use of 574: 1069:
A Practical Treatise of Diseases of the Urinary & Generative Organs
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are sometimes found for words ending with a sound (vaguely) similar to
429: 330:
While the number of users employing these non-standard plural forms of
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Botanical Latin. History, Grammar, Syntax, Terminology and Vocabulary.
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as both the singular and plural form of the word, in the tradition of
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Some English words derive from Latin idiosyncratically. For example,
1082:
June 1999 issue of ASM News by the American Society for Microbiology
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are not etymologically supported plural forms, also played a part.
258: 562: 855:, which has become the prevalent usage in English. Regardless, 995:"Which Is The Correct Plural Spelling? (It's a Trick Question)" 847: 547: 473: 262: 59: 781:
Octopoda but has no classical equivalent. The collective form
253: 909:
imitators). The Toyota corporation has determined that their
671: 657: 220:, and fourth declension masculine and feminine nouns such as 99:
may simply describe them as a natural evolution of language.
42: 71:
and Latin words that did not have their Latin plurals with
851:
follows standard Latin rules for pluralization and becomes
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is occasionally used by scientists for taxonomic purposes.
500: 396:.) Plural neuter nouns of other declensions always end in 833:. Different dictionaries make different recommendations. 534:
appears in the official Scrabble words list, but neither
392:, is borrowed from Greek, so does not give guidance for 281:(16th c.) word, derived from a misreading of the Greek 1072:(third ed.). London: John Churchill. p. 293. 751:
states that "the only acceptable plural in English is
813:, importing Greek morphology into English would have 595:
is the most common form in the UK as well as the US;
289:is used and considered acceptable by some sources. 1049:A Homœopathic Treatise on the Diseases of Children 785:is usually reserved for animals consumed as food. 327:is also found in some nineteenth-century sources. 319:) was well attested, generally in the context of 1349: 1149: 943:were famously referred to as "the Winklevi" in 376:, but neuter second declension nouns ending in 519:is actually more appropriate. In other words, 400:(in the nominative, accusative and vocative). 114:; while others regularly use the Latin forms: 67:). Conversely, some non-Latin words ending in 1143: 1021:(1950) H. W. Fowler, Oxford University Press 91:(the standard English plural is octopuses). 634: 238: 230: 632:derives from the mistaken assumption that 1200:. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 863:is also an acceptable plural in English. 1292:"GREEN: Toyota Readies Fleet Of Priuses" 866: 809:) is sometimes ill-considered. As with 14: 1350: 728:Webster's New World College Dictionary 189:. However, some Latin nouns ending in 1150:Tom Christiansen (17 December 1999). 1062: 1042: 662:, gender masculine), whose plural is 1198:The Cambridge Guide to English Usage 1019:A Dictionary of Modern English Usage 845:(as distinct from Classical Latin), 95:consider these forms incorrect, but 27:English language pluralization rules 603:is often objected to as incorrect. 24: 1267:Random House Unabridged Dictionary 1136:vīrorum (to be distinguished from 913:model should have the plural form 877:Facetious mock-erudite plurals in 836: 694:is "still occasionally used"; the 273:is a verb form, 'we do not know'. 87:is sometimes used as a plural for 25: 1369: 690:, although the latter notes that 200:). For example, third declension 1282:, Tim Stevens, 21 February 2011 1230:Chambers 21st Century Dictionary 680:Chambers 21st Century Dictionary 560:There are three plural forms of 372:was a neuter noun of the second 130:). Still others may use either: 75:form their English plurals with 41:, especially those derived from 1310: 1297: 1285: 1272: 1260: 1247: 1235: 1223: 1211: 1190: 1178: 1166: 1152:"What's the Plural of 'Virus'?" 1114: 36:plural form of words ending in 1330:"What is the plural of virus?" 1255:Fowler's Modern English Usage, 1100: 1085: 1076: 1056: 1036: 1024: 1012: 987: 974:Online Etymological Dictionary 962: 162:mostly in technical contexts, 13: 1: 1257:Oxford University Press, 539. 1232:. Retrieved October 19, 2007. 955: 917:, even though the Latin word 748:Fowler's Modern English Usage 338:, a medium on which users of 1320:, Dana Vachon, December 2011 1307:, Alanis King, 26 April 2019 1094:: "NOVUM VIRUS COMPUTATORIUM 795:The situation with the word 665: 651: 642:second declension Latin noun 88: 7: 1244:Retrieved October 19, 2007. 1220:Retrieved November 2, 2023. 1173:OSW Official Scrabble Words 788: 624:(in that order); it labels 409: 193:are not second declension ( 10: 1374: 1318:"The Code of the Winklevi" 1187:. Retrieved March 18, 2018 1185:PubMed search for octopods 870: 672: 658: 553: 169: 1242:Compact Oxford Dictionary 1218:Oxford English Dictionary 684:Compact Oxford Dictionary 609:Oxford English Dictionary 550:" or "virus particles". 292: 1033:, Issues #1, #3, #5, #7 696:British National Corpus 628:"rare", and notes that 251:is a shortened form of 150:in technical contexts, 801:is similar to that of 635: 299:The English plural of 239: 231: 714:Collegiate Dictionary 712:Merriam-Webster 11th 315:form (sometimes even 185:form their plural in 1196:Peters, Pam (2004). 893:(supposed plural of 867:Facetious formations 777:) is taken from the 759:is misconceived and 698:has 29 instances of 257:'for everyone', the 1120:William T. Stearn: 1253:Burchfield, R.W., 45:, often replaces 1334:reference.com FAQ 903:(as a plural for 743:(in that order). 725:, in that order; 493: 492: 176:second declension 16:(Redirected from 1365: 1344: 1342: 1340: 1321: 1314: 1308: 1301: 1295: 1289: 1283: 1276: 1270: 1264: 1258: 1251: 1245: 1239: 1233: 1227: 1221: 1215: 1209: 1194: 1188: 1182: 1176: 1170: 1164: 1163: 1161: 1159: 1147: 1141: 1118: 1112: 1104: 1098: 1089: 1083: 1080: 1074: 1073: 1060: 1054: 1053: 1040: 1034: 1028: 1022: 1016: 1010: 1009: 1007: 1005: 991: 985: 984: 982: 980: 966: 941:Winklevoss twins 675: 674: 668: 661: 660: 654: 638: 584:. A fourth form 410: 321:computer viruses 242: 234: 181:nouns ending in 21: 1373: 1372: 1368: 1367: 1366: 1364: 1363: 1362: 1358:English grammar 1348: 1347: 1338: 1336: 1328: 1325: 1324: 1315: 1311: 1302: 1298: 1294:, John Voelcker 1290: 1286: 1277: 1273: 1265: 1261: 1252: 1248: 1240: 1236: 1228: 1224: 1216: 1212: 1195: 1191: 1183: 1179: 1175:(1989) Chambers 1171: 1167: 1157: 1155: 1148: 1144: 1119: 1115: 1105: 1101: 1095: 1090: 1086: 1081: 1077: 1061: 1057: 1041: 1037: 1029: 1025: 1017: 1013: 1003: 1001: 999:Merriam-Webster 993: 992: 988: 978: 976: 968: 967: 963: 958: 889:. Examples are 875: 869: 843:Botanical Latin 839: 837:Botanical Latin 793: 779:taxonomic order 558: 525:hypercorrection 476: 454: 428: 424: 388:as a plural of 368:The Latin word 359:Classical Latin 297: 174:In Latin, most 172: 93:Prescriptivists 28: 23: 22: 18:Plural of virus 15: 12: 11: 5: 1371: 1361: 1360: 1346: 1345: 1323: 1322: 1309: 1296: 1284: 1271: 1259: 1246: 1234: 1222: 1210: 1189: 1177: 1165: 1142: 1113: 1099: 1084: 1075: 1064:Acton, William 1055: 1035: 1023: 1011: 986: 960: 959: 957: 954: 949:Social Network 868: 865: 838: 835: 792: 787: 557: 552: 491: 490: 485: 480: 470: 469: 464: 449: 443: 442: 437: 432: 420: 419: 416: 413: 296: 291: 204:nouns such as 171: 168: 97:descriptivists 26: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1370: 1359: 1356: 1355: 1353: 1335: 1331: 1327: 1326: 1319: 1316:Vanity Fair, 1313: 1306: 1300: 1293: 1288: 1281: 1275: 1268: 1263: 1256: 1250: 1243: 1238: 1231: 1226: 1219: 1214: 1207: 1206:0-521-62181-X 1203: 1199: 1193: 1186: 1181: 1174: 1169: 1153: 1146: 1139: 1135: 1131: 1127: 1123: 1117: 1111: 1110: 1103: 1093: 1088: 1079: 1071: 1070: 1065: 1059: 1051: 1050: 1045: 1039: 1032: 1031:VLAD Magazine 1027: 1020: 1015: 1000: 996: 990: 975: 971: 965: 961: 953: 951: 950: 947: 942: 938: 934: 930: 929: 924: 921:has a plural 920: 916: 912: 908: 907: 902: 898: 897: 892: 888: 884: 880: 874: 864: 862: 858: 854: 850: 849: 844: 841:As a word in 834: 832: 828: 824: 820: 816: 812: 808: 804: 800: 799: 791: 786: 784: 780: 776: 772: 767: 765: 762: 758: 754: 750: 749: 744: 742: 738: 734: 730: 729: 724: 720: 716: 715: 709: 705: 701: 697: 693: 689: 685: 681: 677: 669: 667: 655: 653: 647: 646:Ancient Greek 643: 639: 637: 631: 627: 623: 619: 615: 611: 610: 604: 602: 599:is rare, and 598: 594: 589: 587: 583: 582: 577: 576: 571: 570: 565: 564: 556: 551: 549: 543: 541: 537: 533: 528: 526: 522: 518: 514: 510: 506: 502: 498: 489: 486: 484: 481: 479: 475: 472: 471: 468: 465: 462: 458: 453: 450: 448: 445: 444: 441: 438: 436: 433: 431: 427: 422: 421: 417: 414: 412: 411: 408: 406: 401: 399: 395: 391: 387: 383: 380:(rather than 379: 375: 371: 366: 364: 360: 356: 352: 350: 346: 341: 337: 333: 328: 326: 322: 318: 314: 310: 306: 302: 295: 290: 288: 284: 280: 276: 272: 268: 264: 260: 256: 255: 250: 245: 243: 241: 235: 233: 228:have plurals 227: 223: 219: 215: 212:have plurals 211: 207: 203: 199: 198:Latin grammar 196: 192: 188: 184: 180: 177: 167: 165: 161: 157: 153: 149: 145: 141: 137: 133: 129: 125: 121: 117: 113: 109: 105: 100: 98: 94: 90: 86: 82: 78: 74: 70: 66: 62: 61: 56: 52: 48: 44: 40: 39: 33: 19: 1337:. Retrieved 1333: 1312: 1299: 1287: 1274: 1266: 1262: 1254: 1249: 1237: 1225: 1213: 1197: 1192: 1180: 1172: 1168: 1156:. Retrieved 1145: 1137: 1133: 1129: 1125: 1121: 1116: 1108: 1102: 1087: 1078: 1068: 1058: 1048: 1038: 1030: 1026: 1018: 1014: 1002:. Retrieved 998: 989: 977:. Retrieved 973: 964: 948: 945: 936: 932: 926: 922: 918: 914: 910: 904: 900: 894: 890: 886: 882: 878: 876: 860: 856: 852: 846: 840: 830: 826: 822: 818: 814: 810: 806: 802: 796: 794: 789: 782: 774: 770: 768: 760: 756: 752: 746: 745: 740: 736: 732: 726: 722: 718: 711: 707: 703: 699: 691: 687: 683: 679: 678: 663: 649: 633: 629: 625: 621: 617: 613: 607: 605: 600: 596: 592: 590: 585: 579: 573: 567: 561: 559: 554: 544: 539: 535: 531: 529: 520: 516: 512: 508: 504: 496: 494: 487: 482: 466: 460: 457:heteroclitic 451: 439: 434: 402: 397: 393: 389: 385: 381: 377: 369: 367: 354: 353: 348: 344: 339: 331: 329: 324: 316: 312: 308: 304: 300: 298: 293: 286: 282: 274: 270: 266: 265:) plural of 252: 248: 246: 237: 229: 225: 221: 217: 213: 209: 205: 194: 190: 186: 182: 173: 166:otherwise). 163: 159: 155: 154:otherwise), 151: 147: 143: 139: 135: 131: 127: 123: 119: 115: 111: 107: 103: 101: 84: 80: 76: 72: 68: 64: 58: 54: 50: 46: 37: 35: 29: 1158:29 December 1154:. Rick Moen 1140:, of men)." 1044:Teste, Alph 928:Lada Priora 755:" and that 591:Currently, 507:instead of 1303:jalopnik, 1278:engadget, 1126:gen. sing. 979:21 October 970:"Syllabus" 956:References 896:stewardess 871:See also: 831:platypuses 815:platypodes 753:octopuses, 686:list only 455:(antique, 430:accusative 423:nominative 374:declension 279:Late Latin 1339:2 January 1208:, p. 388. 1004:26 August 873:Dog Latin 769:The term 761:octopodes 741:octopodes 733:octopuses 719:octopuses 708:octopodes 706:and 4 of 700:octopuses 692:octopodes 688:octopuses 673:ὀκτώποδες 666:oktṓpodes 626:octopodes 622:octopodes 618:octopuses 597:octopodes 593:octopuses 581:octopodes 569:octopuses 530:The form 495:Usage of 405:Neo-Latin 363:mass noun 271:ignoramus 179:masculine 63:, plural 1352:Category 1134:gen. pl. 1130:nom. pl. 1066:(1860). 1046:(1854). 939:. The 935:line is 891:stewardi 881:or even 861:Cactuses 819:platypus 798:platypus 790:Platypus 775:octopods 773:(plural 764:pedantic 702:, 11 of 682:and the 659:ὀκτώπους 652:oktṓpous 586:octopods 478:ablative 447:genitive 426:vocative 415:singular 283:sittybos 275:Syllabus 259:ablative 152:formulas 148:formulae 140:corpuses 65:campuses 1138:virorum 811:octopus 807:platypi 803:octopus 783:octopus 771:octopod 648:, from 636:octōpūs 563:octopus 555:Octopus 548:virions 532:viruses 517:viruses 505:viruses 467:vīrōrum 418:plural 390:pelagus 305:viruses 287:syllabi 254:omnibus 218:corpora 170:History 164:indexes 160:indices 144:formula 136:corpora 124:alumnus 89:octopus 32:English 1269:(2006) 1204:  1132:vira, 1128:viri, 1107:Pons: 925:, the 923:priora 899:) and 857:cactus 848:cactus 757:octopi 737:octopi 731:lists 723:octopi 717:lists 704:octopi 630:octopi 614:octopi 612:lists 601:octopi 578:, and 575:octopi 542:does. 474:dative 386:pelage 361:was a 269:, and 263:dative 240:tribūs 226:tribus 210:corpus 202:neuter 132:corpus 128:alumni 122:) and 116:radius 110:, and 104:campus 85:octopi 60:campus 34:, the 1109:virus 937:Lexus 933:Lexus 919:prius 911:Prius 906:Elvis 853:cacti 823:sheep 640:is a 540:virii 523:is a 521:virii 513:virii 509:virii 497:virii 488:vīrīs 461:vīrus 435:vīrus 394:virus 370:vīrus 355:Vīrus 349:virii 332:virus 317:virii 301:virus 294:Virus 277:is a 267:omnis 261:(and 232:sinūs 222:sinus 214:opera 156:index 120:radii 108:bonus 49:with 43:Latin 1341:2005 1202:ISBN 1160:2010 1006:2023 981:2018 915:Prii 901:Elvi 827:fish 739:and 721:and 620:and 606:The 538:nor 536:viri 501:Perl 483:vīrō 452:vīrī 440:vīra 347:and 345:viri 340:viri 325:Viri 313:viri 236:and 224:and 216:and 208:and 206:opus 112:anus 81:e.g. 55:e.g. 946:The 887:-us 883:-ii 825:or 710:. 676:). 403:In 382:-um 378:-us 357:in 336:web 323:. 303:is 249:bus 195:cf. 191:-us 183:-us 142:), 138:or 69:-us 47:-us 38:-us 30:In 1354:: 1332:. 997:. 972:. 952:. 879:-i 766:. 735:, 616:, 572:, 566:: 527:. 459:: 398:-a 244:. 187:-i 106:, 83:, 79:, 77:-i 73:-i 57:, 51:-i 1343:. 1162:. 1008:. 983:. 670:( 656:( 546:" 463:) 309:i 158:( 146:( 134:( 126:( 118:( 20:)

Index

Plural of virus
English
Latin
campus
octopus
Prescriptivists
descriptivists
second declension
masculine
Latin grammar
neuter
omnibus
ablative
dative
Late Latin
computer viruses
web
Classical Latin
mass noun
declension
Neo-Latin
vocative
accusative
genitive
heteroclitic
dative
ablative
Perl
hypercorrection
virions

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