-άς

Related to -άζω (-ázō, verb-forming suffix) and possibly -ων (-ōn). Cognate with Sanskrit -अत् (-at) and Hittite -𒀭𒍝.

-ᾰ́ς • (-ás) f (genitive -ᾰ́δος); third declension

1. Forms nouns with participial function.

   ‎λᾰ́μπω (lámpō, “shine”) + ‎-άς (-ás) → ‎λαμπάς (lampás, “torch”)

   ‎φεύγω (pheúgō, “to flee”) + ‎-άς (-ás) → ‎φυγάς (phugás, “an exile”)

2. Forms nouns with collective function.

   ‎νείφω (neíphō, “to snow”) + ‎-άς (-ás) → ‎νιφάς (niphás, “snowstorm”)

3. Forms designations of young animals.

   κεμάς (kemás, “pricket”)

4. Forms derivatives of nasal stems extended with -t-.

   ‎ἰκμαίνω (ikmaínō, “to moisten”) + ‎-άς (-ás) → ‎ἰκμάς (ikmás, “moisture”)

   ‎ἐμβαίνω (embaínō, “to enter”) + ‎-άς (-ás) → ‎ἐμβάς (embás, “slipper”)

5. Forms abstract or collective nouns of number from numerals.

   ‎δέκᾰ (déka, “ten”) + ‎-άς (-ás) → ‎δεκάς (dekás, “the number ten, group of ten”)

If a verb-stem varies in grade, the resulting noun is usually in the o-grade (or, failing that, the zero-grade), e.g. στρέφω (stréphō) → στροφάς (strophás); νείφω (neíphō) → νιφάς (niphás). The resulting substantive usually has nominal force, but sometimes has adjectival force.

• Smyth, Herbert Weir (1920) “Part II: Inflection”, in A Greek grammar for colleges, Cambridge: American Book Company, § 354
• Birgit A. Olsen (1989) “A Trace of Indo-European Accent in Armenian”, in Historische Sprachforschung / Historical Linguistics‎, pages 235-240

Possibly related to -ις (-is), also to Etymology 1. The form -ιάς (-iás) comes from analogy to forms like Θεστιάς (Thestiás) from Θέστιος (Théstios).

• -ιάς (-iás)

-ᾰ́ς • (-ás) f (genitive -ᾰ́δος); third declension

1. Forms feminine adjectives or nouns.

   Δηλιάς (Dēliás, “female Delian”)

2. Forms female patronymics from name of father.

   Θεστιάς (Thestiás, “daughter of Thestius”)

• -άδης (-ádēs)

• -ις (-is)

• Smyth, Herbert Weir (1920) “Part III: Formation of Words”, in A Greek grammar for colleges, Cambridge: American Book Company, § 845

From Ancient Greek -άς (-ás).

• IPA^(key): /ˈas/

-άς • (-ás) m (feminine -ού)

1. added to another noun to create agent nouns:

   μύλος ("mill") → μυλωνάς ("miller")

   γάλα ("milk") → γαλατάς ("milkman", "dairyman"")

   γυναίκα ("woman") → γυναικάς ("womaniser")

   φαγητό ("food") → φαγάς ("gourmand", "greedy guts")

• -έας m (-éas)
• -ιάς m (-iás)