Creek and Latin in Biological Nomenclature 49 



Inseparables : 



ainbi-formis (ambi, around, forma, form) of doubtful form 

 dis-calccatis (dis, without, calceo, put on shoes) barefooted 

 re-fonnatns (re, back, again, firmo, fix) re-establish 

 sc-jitgis (si', apart, jugnm, yoke) disjoined 

 vc-grandis (ye } out, not, grandis, large) not very large, small 



ALTERNATIVES 



Duplicate names or terms may arise in nomenclature from 

 alternative words, stems, connectives, or terminations, or from 

 the alternative use of nouns, adjectives, and verbal stems from 

 the same root to form the last term of a compound. In Latin, al- 

 'ternatives cause little trouble because of the slight development 

 of composition, and for the reason that Latin derivatives are 

 largely specific. In Greek, the confusion arising from alterna- 

 tives is great, and it is imperative that composition be made to 

 conform to certain definite rules. An observance of the follow- 

 ing rules in making compounds will aid greatly in preventing 

 the occurrence of real duplicates, as well as the occurrence of 

 extremely similar, though perfectly distinct compounds, which 

 are a source of vexation to many biologists. 



1 i ) When the language shows two or more alternative words, 



such as xaa[j.a. and ^acr/x,?;, ypd/j.fj.0. and ypafjifjLTJ, ypa<f>is and ypa<f>rj, the 



more primitive word should be chosen. As this involves a con- 

 siderable knowledge of Greek, the only safe plan is for the 

 coiner to make sure that his proposed compound does not appear 

 in an alternative form. This may be readily done at the same 

 time that he assures himself that the word does not already exist 

 in his science in the form in which he proposes it. 



(2) Duplicates arising from alternative stems and connectives 

 are readily avoided by observing the rule already suggested, viz., 

 that the proper connective is always -o- in Greek and that words 

 always enter into composition in the full stem form. 



(3) Since a root may often appear in the first term of the 

 compound as a noun, adjective, or verbal stem, it is advisable 

 that the coiner of a name should avoid using a root already 

 found in either of its other forms in composition with the same 

 last term. 



369 



