deponent
- noun
- /dɪˈpoʊnənt/
- Specialized
:
verbo deponente
- In ancient Greek, a deponent verb appears passive but conveys an active meaning.
Examples
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The teacher explained that a deponent has passive endings but an active meaning.
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Students must memorize which Latin verbs are classified as deponents for their exams.
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In ancient Greek, a deponent often looks passive but is translated as an active verb.
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A deponent is a special type of verb.
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The deponent verb 'loquor' is often discussed.
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In Latin, students learn that certain verbs are classified as deponents due to their unique forms.
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The grammar workbook included examples of how a deponent verb functions in sentences.
Surface Forms
Morphology
deponent = depose (opaque) = de + ponent + ent
Although the form is analyzable as 'de-' + '-ponent' (related to 'depose'), the grammatical meaning ('passive form but active meaning') is a technical historical development and cannot be predicted from the components.
Etymology
Deponent comes from Latin parts de- 'down' and ponere 'to put', and it is like the word position. In grammar a deponent verb 'puts aside' the normal active forms and uses passive forms while keeping an active meaning, so it looks passive but is translated as active.
