122 BUREAU OF AMEEICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 40 



§ 39. Temporal Suffixes 



1. -X. This suffix is used with the forms of the present indefinite, and 



indicates that the act or condition was persistent through a lim- 

 ited and definitely stated length of time. 



wilweL tsisdaux until night he staj^ed 

 naihits^x he ran around (until morning) 



2. -winte. The suffixing of -'lointe to the forms of the present indefi- 



nite gives a meaning to the verb but little dift'erent from the 

 customary tense, which has a prefix e-. It indicates that the 

 act or condition is continuous, or at least takes place whenever 

 cause arises. The customary may mean that the act has been 

 done several times without regard to the regularity of the 

 intervals. 

 tciLwaLwinte they always dance 



3. -neen. This suffix is applied to nouns and verbs alike. It states 



that the thing, act, or condition has ceased, or is about to cease, 

 its existence. When used with verbs, it is usually appended 

 to the forms of the present indefinite, and means that the act or 

 condition was habitual or continual in the past, but has now 

 ceased. 



auwtlnneen I used to do that 

 wessilyoneen you used to like (him) 



4. -fe. This is the suffix most commonly employed. It predicts a 



future act or condition, either as the result of the impulse of the 

 agent, or the compelling force of some person or event. It 

 takes the place, therefore, of English will and shall. It is 

 appended, for the most part, to the forms of the definite present. 



melumte I am going to watch it 

 deduwillate he will put it into the fire 



This suffix is sometimes preceded by a syllable containing the 

 vowel e standing between the root and -te. The prediction is 

 said to be made with less assurance when it has this form. 

 toisdlyannete she may live to be old 



5. -teL. This suffix seems to denote events in a nearer future than 



those expressed by -te. 



dUwilleteL a party is coming to kill 

 rainesgitteL it will be afraid 295.7 

 .§39 



