Knowledge

Plural form of words ending in -us

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1085:
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
331:
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
534:
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
1086:
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."
983: 492:
community, who researched the issue and wrote what eventually became referred to in various online discussions as the authoritative essay on the subject, favoring
354:, denoting something uncountable. These pluralize only under special circumstances, and no plural form of the word can be found in contemporary texts. 806:
as the plural, but in practice this form is hardly attested outside of discussions about pluralization. In scientific contexts, biologists often use
1032: 323:
was always a small percentage of the English-speaking population, the variation was notable because it coincided with the growth of the
1218: 716: 1268: 920:
having prior claim to that name—though the common plural is "Priuses". Conversely, Toyota has also said that the plural of their
445: 274:"table of contents"; since it is not a classical word, some argue that it does not have a classical plural. However, the form 702: 296:. In most speaking communities, this is non-controversial and speakers would not attempt to use the non-standard plural in - 91:
Some English words of Latin origin do not commonly take the Latin plural, but rather the regular English plurals in -(e)s:
1230: 1293: 1056: 396:, a plural form is necessary in order to express the modern concept of 'viruses', leading to the following declension: 1194: 504:
could be construed as a claim of superior knowledge of language when in fact more detailed research finds the native
794:; the word is etymologically Greek despite its Latinized ending, and so pluralizing it as if it were Latin (i.e. as 736: 1280: 1081:
Nuntii Latini: Finnish Broadcasting Company (Radiophonia Finnica Generalis). Archiv I. 19.5.2000 - 6.12.2002
488:
within Internet communities has met with some resistance, most notably by Tom Christiansen, a figure in the
1306: 42:. There are many exceptions, some because the word does not derive from Latin, and others due to custom ( 597: 300:. However, in computer enthusiast circles in the late 20th century and early 21st, the non-standard 1346: 684: 81: 1052: 85: 1206: 958: 1318: 1036: 1269:"Toyota decrees the plural of 'Prius' is 'Prii,' your Latin teacher looks on admonishingly" 8: 1095: 1041:. Translated by Côté, Emma. Cincinnati: Moore, Anderson, Wilstach & Keys. p. 48. 848:
is popularly used as both singular and plural, and is cited as both singular and plural.
933: 167: 630: 164: 1190: 1173: 1080: 929: 884: 362: 190: 20: 1294:
Breaking Minds and Spirits Everywhere, Lexus Says the Plural of 'Lexus' Is 'Lexus'
831: 767: 513: 347: 373:) are rare enough that inferring rules is difficult. (One rare attested plural, 324: 309: 633:. (The long "ū" is not used in the 2nd declension.) Rather, it is (Latinized) 569: 557: 1340: 894: 634: 186: 1113:
David & Charles, third edition, 1983. Quote: "Virus: virus (s.n. II),
818:, but laypersons and scientists alike often use the simple English plural 916: 500:. The impetus of this discussion was the potential irony that the use of 563: 1058:
A Practical Treatise of Diseases of the Urinary & Generative Organs
874:
are sometimes found for words ending with a sound (vaguely) similar to
418: 319:
While the number of users employing these non-standard plural forms of
267: 1111:
Botanical Latin. History, Grammar, Syntax, Terminology and Vocabulary.
810:
as both the singular and plural form of the word, in the tradition of
1140: 861: 653: 639: 393: 351: 236:
Some English words derive from Latin idiosyncratically. For example,
1071:
June 1999 issue of ASM News by the American Society for Microbiology
786: 752: 466: 435: 414: 340:
are not etymologically supported plural forms, also played a part.
247: 551: 844:, which has become the prevalent usage in English. Regardless, 984:"Which Is The Correct Plural Spelling? (It's a Trick Question)" 836: 536: 462: 251: 48: 770:
Octopoda but has no classical equivalent. The collective form
242: 898:
imitators). The Toyota corporation has determined that their
660: 646: 209:, and fourth declension masculine and feminine nouns such as 88:
may simply describe them as a natural evolution of language.
31: 60:
and Latin words that did not have their Latin plurals with
840:
follows standard Latin rules for pluralization and becomes
577:
is occasionally used by scientists for taxonomic purposes.
489: 385:.) Plural neuter nouns of other declensions always end in 822:. Different dictionaries make different recommendations. 523:
appears in the official Scrabble words list, but neither
381:, is borrowed from Greek, so does not give guidance for 270:(16th c.) word, derived from a misreading of the Greek 1061:(third ed.). London: John Churchill. p. 293. 740:
states that "the only acceptable plural in English is
802:, importing Greek morphology into English would have 584:
is the most common form in the UK as well as the US;
278:is used and considered acceptable by some sources. 1038:A Homœopathic Treatise on the Diseases of Children 774:is usually reserved for animals consumed as food. 316:is also found in some nineteenth-century sources. 308:) was well attested, generally in the context of 1338: 1138: 932:were famously referred to as "the Winklevi" in 365:, but neuter second declension nouns ending in 508:is actually more appropriate. In other words, 389:(in the nominative, accusative and vocative). 103:; while others regularly use the Latin forms: 56:). Conversely, some non-Latin words ending in 1132: 1010:(1950) H. W. Fowler, Oxford University Press 80:(the standard English plural is octopuses). 623: 227: 219: 621:derives from the mistaken assumption that 1189:. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 852:is also an acceptable plural in English. 1281:"GREEN: Toyota Readies Fleet Of Priuses" 855: 798:) is sometimes ill-considered. As with 1339: 717:Webster's New World College Dictionary 178:. However, some Latin nouns ending in 1139:Tom Christiansen (17 December 1999). 1051: 1031: 651:, gender masculine), whose plural is 1187:The Cambridge Guide to English Usage 1008:A Dictionary of Modern English Usage 834:(as distinct from Classical Latin), 84:consider these forms incorrect, but 16:English language pluralization rules 592:is often objected to as incorrect. 13: 1256:Random House Unabridged Dictionary 1125:vīrorum (to be distinguished from 902:model should have the plural form 866:Facetious mock-erudite plurals in 825: 683:is "still occasionally used"; the 262:is a verb form, 'we do not know'. 76:is sometimes used as a plural for 14: 1358: 679:, although the latter notes that 189:). For example, third declension 1271:, Tim Stevens, 21 February 2011 1219:Chambers 21st Century Dictionary 669:Chambers 21st Century Dictionary 549:There are three plural forms of 361:was a neuter noun of the second 119:). Still others may use either: 64:form their English plurals with 30:, especially those derived from 1299: 1286: 1274: 1261: 1249: 1236: 1224: 1212: 1200: 1179: 1167: 1155: 1141:"What's the Plural of 'Virus'?" 1103: 25:plural form of words ending in 1319:"What is the plural of virus?" 1244:Fowler's Modern English Usage, 1089: 1074: 1065: 1045: 1025: 1013: 1001: 976: 963:Online Etymological Dictionary 951: 151:mostly in technical contexts, 1: 1246:Oxford University Press, 539. 1221:. Retrieved October 19, 2007. 944: 906:, even though the Latin word 737:Fowler's Modern English Usage 327:, a medium on which users of 1309:, Dana Vachon, December 2011 1296:, Alanis King, 26 April 2019 1083:: "NOVUM VIRUS COMPUTATORIUM 784:The situation with the word 654: 640: 631:second declension Latin noun 77: 7: 1233:Retrieved October 19, 2007. 1209:Retrieved November 2, 2023. 1162:OSW Official Scrabble Words 777: 613:(in that order); it labels 398: 182:are not second declension ( 10: 1363: 1307:"The Code of the Winklevi" 1176:. Retrieved March 18, 2018 1174:PubMed search for octopods 859: 661: 647: 542: 158: 1231:Compact Oxford Dictionary 1207:Oxford English Dictionary 673:Compact Oxford Dictionary 598:Oxford English Dictionary 539:" or "virus particles". 281: 1022:, Issues #1, #3, #5, #7 685:British National Corpus 617:"rare", and notes that 240:is a shortened form of 139:in technical contexts, 790:is similar to that of 624: 288:The English plural of 228: 220: 703:Collegiate Dictionary 701:Merriam-Webster 11th 304:form (sometimes even 174:form their plural in 1185:Peters, Pam (2004). 882:(supposed plural of 856:Facetious formations 766:) is taken from the 748:is misconceived and 687:has 29 instances of 246:'for everyone', the 1109:William T. Stearn: 1242:Burchfield, R.W., 34:, often replaces 1323:reference.com FAQ 892:(as a plural for 732:(in that order). 714:, in that order; 482: 481: 165:second declension 1354: 1333: 1331: 1329: 1310: 1303: 1297: 1290: 1284: 1278: 1272: 1265: 1259: 1253: 1247: 1240: 1234: 1228: 1222: 1216: 1210: 1204: 1198: 1183: 1177: 1171: 1165: 1159: 1153: 1152: 1150: 1148: 1136: 1130: 1107: 1101: 1093: 1087: 1078: 1072: 1069: 1063: 1062: 1049: 1043: 1042: 1029: 1023: 1017: 1011: 1005: 999: 998: 996: 994: 980: 974: 973: 971: 969: 955: 930:Winklevoss twins 664: 663: 657: 650: 649: 643: 627: 573:. A fourth form 399: 310:computer viruses 231: 223: 170:nouns ending in 1362: 1361: 1357: 1356: 1355: 1353: 1352: 1351: 1347:English grammar 1337: 1336: 1327: 1325: 1317: 1314: 1313: 1304: 1300: 1291: 1287: 1283:, John Voelcker 1279: 1275: 1266: 1262: 1254: 1250: 1241: 1237: 1229: 1225: 1217: 1213: 1205: 1201: 1184: 1180: 1172: 1168: 1164:(1989) Chambers 1160: 1156: 1146: 1144: 1137: 1133: 1108: 1104: 1094: 1090: 1084: 1079: 1075: 1070: 1066: 1050: 1046: 1030: 1026: 1018: 1014: 1006: 1002: 992: 990: 988:Merriam-Webster 982: 981: 977: 967: 965: 957: 956: 952: 947: 878:. Examples are 864: 858: 832:Botanical Latin 828: 826:Botanical Latin 782: 768:taxonomic order 547: 514:hypercorrection 465: 443: 417: 413: 377:as a plural of 357:The Latin word 348:Classical Latin 286: 163:In Latin, most 161: 82:Prescriptivists 17: 12: 11: 5: 1360: 1350: 1349: 1335: 1334: 1312: 1311: 1298: 1285: 1273: 1260: 1248: 1235: 1223: 1211: 1199: 1178: 1166: 1154: 1131: 1102: 1088: 1073: 1064: 1053:Acton, William 1044: 1024: 1012: 1000: 975: 949: 948: 946: 943: 938:Social Network 857: 854: 827: 824: 781: 776: 546: 541: 480: 479: 474: 469: 459: 458: 453: 438: 432: 431: 426: 421: 409: 408: 405: 402: 285: 280: 193:nouns such as 160: 157: 86:descriptivists 15: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1359: 1348: 1345: 1344: 1342: 1324: 1320: 1316: 1315: 1308: 1305:Vanity Fair, 1302: 1295: 1289: 1282: 1277: 1270: 1264: 1257: 1252: 1245: 1239: 1232: 1227: 1220: 1215: 1208: 1203: 1196: 1195:0-521-62181-X 1192: 1188: 1182: 1175: 1170: 1163: 1158: 1142: 1135: 1128: 1124: 1120: 1116: 1112: 1106: 1100: 1099: 1092: 1082: 1077: 1068: 1060: 1059: 1054: 1048: 1040: 1039: 1034: 1028: 1021: 1020:VLAD Magazine 1016: 1009: 1004: 989: 985: 979: 964: 960: 954: 950: 942: 940: 939: 936: 931: 927: 923: 919: 918: 913: 910:has a plural 909: 905: 901: 897: 896: 891: 887: 886: 881: 877: 873: 869: 863: 853: 851: 847: 843: 839: 838: 833: 830:As a word in 823: 821: 817: 813: 809: 805: 801: 797: 793: 789: 788: 780: 775: 773: 769: 765: 761: 756: 754: 751: 747: 743: 739: 738: 733: 731: 727: 723: 719: 718: 713: 709: 705: 704: 698: 694: 690: 686: 682: 678: 674: 670: 666: 658: 656: 644: 642: 636: 635:Ancient Greek 632: 628: 626: 620: 616: 612: 608: 604: 600: 599: 593: 591: 588:is rare, and 587: 583: 578: 576: 572: 571: 566: 565: 560: 559: 554: 553: 545: 540: 538: 532: 530: 526: 522: 517: 515: 511: 507: 503: 499: 495: 491: 487: 478: 475: 473: 470: 468: 464: 461: 460: 457: 454: 451: 447: 442: 439: 437: 434: 433: 430: 427: 425: 422: 420: 416: 411: 410: 406: 403: 401: 400: 397: 395: 390: 388: 384: 380: 376: 372: 369:(rather than 368: 364: 360: 355: 353: 349: 345: 341: 339: 335: 330: 326: 322: 317: 315: 311: 307: 303: 299: 295: 291: 284: 279: 277: 273: 269: 265: 261: 257: 253: 249: 245: 244: 239: 234: 232: 230: 224: 222: 217:have plurals 216: 212: 208: 204: 201:have plurals 200: 196: 192: 188: 187:Latin grammar 185: 181: 177: 173: 169: 166: 156: 154: 150: 146: 142: 138: 134: 130: 126: 122: 118: 114: 110: 106: 102: 98: 94: 89: 87: 83: 79: 75: 71: 67: 63: 59: 55: 51: 50: 45: 41: 37: 33: 29: 28: 22: 1326:. Retrieved 1322: 1301: 1288: 1276: 1263: 1255: 1251: 1243: 1238: 1226: 1214: 1202: 1186: 1181: 1169: 1161: 1157: 1145:. Retrieved 1134: 1126: 1122: 1118: 1114: 1110: 1105: 1097: 1091: 1076: 1067: 1057: 1047: 1037: 1027: 1019: 1015: 1007: 1003: 991:. Retrieved 987: 978: 966:. Retrieved 962: 953: 937: 934: 925: 921: 915: 911: 907: 903: 899: 893: 889: 883: 879: 875: 871: 867: 865: 849: 845: 841: 835: 829: 819: 815: 811: 807: 803: 799: 795: 791: 785: 783: 778: 771: 763: 759: 757: 749: 745: 741: 735: 734: 729: 725: 721: 715: 711: 707: 700: 696: 692: 688: 680: 676: 672: 668: 667: 652: 638: 622: 618: 614: 610: 606: 602: 596: 594: 589: 585: 581: 579: 574: 568: 562: 556: 550: 548: 543: 533: 528: 524: 520: 518: 509: 505: 501: 497: 493: 485: 483: 476: 471: 455: 449: 446:heteroclitic 440: 428: 423: 391: 386: 382: 378: 374: 370: 366: 358: 356: 343: 342: 337: 333: 328: 320: 318: 313: 305: 301: 297: 293: 289: 287: 282: 275: 271: 263: 259: 255: 254:) plural of 241: 237: 235: 226: 218: 214: 210: 206: 202: 198: 194: 183: 179: 175: 171: 162: 155:otherwise). 152: 148: 144: 143:otherwise), 140: 136: 132: 128: 124: 120: 116: 112: 108: 104: 100: 96: 92: 90: 73: 69: 65: 61: 57: 53: 47: 43: 39: 35: 26: 24: 18: 1147:29 December 1143:. Rick Moen 1129:, of men)." 1033:Teste, Alph 917:Lada Priora 744:" and that 580:Currently, 496:instead of 1292:jalopnik, 1267:engadget, 1115:gen. sing. 968:21 October 959:"Syllabus" 945:References 885:stewardess 860:See also: 820:platypuses 804:platypodes 742:octopuses, 675:list only 444:(antique, 419:accusative 412:nominative 363:declension 268:Late Latin 1328:2 January 1197:, p. 388. 993:26 August 862:Dog Latin 758:The term 750:octopodes 730:octopodes 722:octopuses 708:octopuses 697:octopodes 695:and 4 of 689:octopuses 681:octopodes 677:octopuses 662:ὀκτώποδες 655:oktṓpodes 615:octopodes 611:octopodes 607:octopuses 586:octopodes 582:octopuses 570:octopodes 558:octopuses 519:The form 484:Usage of 394:Neo-Latin 352:mass noun 260:ignoramus 168:masculine 52:, plural 1341:Category 1123:gen. pl. 1119:nom. pl. 1055:(1860). 1035:(1854). 928:. The 924:line is 880:stewardi 870:or even 850:Cactuses 808:platypus 787:platypus 779:Platypus 764:octopods 762:(plural 753:pedantic 691:, 11 of 671:and the 648:ὀκτώπους 641:oktṓpous 575:octopods 467:ablative 436:genitive 415:vocative 404:singular 272:sittybos 264:Syllabus 248:ablative 141:formulas 137:formulae 129:corpuses 54:campuses 1127:virorum 800:octopus 796:platypi 792:octopus 772:octopus 760:octopod 637:, from 625:octōpūs 552:octopus 544:Octopus 537:virions 521:viruses 506:viruses 494:viruses 456:vīrōrum 407:plural 379:pelagus 294:viruses 276:syllabi 243:omnibus 207:corpora 159:History 153:indexes 149:indices 133:formula 125:corpora 113:alumnus 78:octopus 21:English 1258:(2006) 1193:  1121:vira, 1117:viri, 1096:Pons: 914:, the 912:priora 888:) and 846:cactus 837:cactus 746:octopi 726:octopi 720:lists 712:octopi 706:lists 693:octopi 619:octopi 603:octopi 601:lists 590:octopi 567:, and 564:octopi 531:does. 463:dative 375:pelage 350:was a 258:, and 252:dative 229:tribūs 215:tribus 199:corpus 191:neuter 121:corpus 117:alumni 111:) and 105:radius 99:, and 93:campus 74:octopi 49:campus 23:, the 1098:virus 926:Lexus 922:Lexus 908:prius 900:Prius 895:Elvis 842:cacti 812:sheep 629:is a 529:virii 512:is a 510:virii 502:virii 498:virii 486:virii 477:vīrīs 450:vīrus 424:vīrus 383:virus 359:vīrus 344:Vīrus 338:virii 321:virus 306:virii 290:virus 283:Virus 266:is a 256:omnis 250:(and 221:sinūs 211:sinus 203:opera 145:index 109:radii 97:bonus 38:with 32:Latin 1330:2005 1191:ISBN 1149:2010 995:2023 970:2018 904:Prii 890:Elvi 816:fish 728:and 710:and 609:and 595:The 527:nor 525:viri 490:Perl 472:vīrō 441:vīrī 429:vīra 336:and 334:viri 329:viri 314:Viri 302:viri 225:and 213:and 205:and 197:and 195:opus 101:anus 70:e.g. 44:e.g. 935:The 876:-us 872:-ii 814:or 699:. 665:). 392:In 371:-um 367:-us 346:in 325:web 312:. 292:is 238:bus 184:cf. 180:-us 172:-us 131:), 127:or 58:-us 36:-us 27:-us 19:In 1343:: 1321:. 986:. 961:. 941:. 868:-i 755:. 724:, 605:, 561:, 555:: 516:. 448:: 387:-a 233:. 176:-i 95:, 72:, 68:, 66:-i 62:-i 46:, 40:-i 1332:. 1151:. 997:. 972:. 659:( 645:( 535:" 452:) 298:i 147:( 135:( 123:( 115:( 107:(

Index

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
octopus

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