BOAS] HANDBOOK OF INDIAN LANGUAGES — COOS 359 



§ 55. MISCELLANEOUS SUFFIXES 



While the functions of the verbal suffixes discussed in the preced- 

 ing pages are clear, and could be described fairly accurately, there 

 are a few others that appear only now and then, and express ideas 

 of a varying character. It is possible that these suffixes may repre- 

 sent the petrified remnants of grammatical formations that have 

 become obliterated in the course of time. The following is a list of 

 these suffixes: 



-a. This suffix seems to express in a number of instances our infini- 

 tive idea. 



Ine^'wat xwi'tsxut he is habit- In'ta e'he Ie da! mil hunting (had) 

 ually hunting deer gone the man 108.9 



Jielml'his aso' la In'ta next day again 

 he went hunting 110.10 

 SLaqa'e^wat she is bathing yixe'n SLa'qa la once bathing she 

 him (caus.) 60.6 went (literally, to bathe) 84.24 



In a few cases it has been found suffixed to neutral stems, and seems 

 to denote impersonal actions. 



loq^- to boil loqu'qwa Ie s^az/ was boiling the 



pitch 102.11 

 hiinna'was smoke 22.23 %n Icwi'na not it smokes 110.14 



It is possible that this suffix may have the identical function with the 

 -a (or -e) suffixed to the modal adverbs (see § 106), and it may 

 consequently be related to the auxiliary -e (see § 44). 



-e. 1 am at a loss to detect the exact nature of this suffix and its 

 etymological connection with any of the other suffixes. In the few 

 instances in which it occurs, it was rendered by the passive, or else 

 as an abstract verbal noun. 



h'ilo'imt she saw him 54.2 a'yu h'ilo'we % la^ djl surely it was 



seen as it was coming 52.7, 8 



k'i'LoHs he found it 32.10 la ix' k'^'he her canoe was found 



54.19 



haJwl he grew up 64. 12 la u ha^'we it grew up (literall}', 



goes its growth) 20.16 



kla'lat he shouted (at it) 36.7 d'tvl nJc'e'le I quit shouting (lit- 

 erally, the shouts) 



mi'lat he swam 30.7 d'wl e^mi'le stop swimming (liter- 



ally, finish your swimming) 



.§ 55 



