1874.] A. F. Rudolf Hoernle —Essays on the Gaurian Languages. 
28 
clock (Skr. earth (Skr. ^31 tT^t) , etc. IMost Gaurian feminines, 
especially adjective feminines, are of the latter kind. 
As regards the form in % the principle of its derivation has been 
already explained in Essay III., the regular feminine of bases in ter¬ 
minates in Sanskrit and Prakrit in ; (the few cases of a feminine in ^ 
may be considered as exceptional; the feminine affix ^ being by rule 
added to all bases consonantal or vocal, not ending in ^f). The Gaurian 
feminine ending is a regular phonetic corruption of the (Sanskrit or) 
Prakrit termination according to Gaurian phonetic law which reduces 
all Prakrit final long vowels or diphthongs to their constituent vowels. The 
other Gaurian feminine ending on the other hand, cannot he a modifica¬ 
tion of the Skr. or Prak. termination ; for as compared with the Gaurian 
termination % it clearly represents phonetic increase, which, if it were the 
immediate resultant of the Skr. or Prak. ending would he contrary to 
glottic laws. How, then, is the Gaurian feminine ending in which 
corresponds to the Skr. and Prak. feminine ending ^ of bases in ■% to be 
derived? If we consult the result of the previous enquiry (viz., that the 
Gaurian neuter ending has a Prakrit original ^f, and the Gaurian ending 
3IT, etc., a Prakrit original etc., or etc.), we shall 
conclude that the Gaurian feminine ending ^ is a modification of an original 
Prakrit ending ^EfT. and the feminine ending?) a modification of the Prakrit 
feminine ending T^\T or ?^T, belonging to Prakrit bases in or 
Bases in st,3f and form in Sanskrit and likewise in Prakrit their femi¬ 
nine in (cf. Panini, 46. 7, 4, 46, 47) ; e. g\, Skr. Pr. hoy, 
has fern. Skr. ^Tfi^efTT, Pr. ^Tf^T^EfT ; so ifi^: horse, Pr. lias in the 
fern. mare which in Prakrit becomes and in Gaurian ifTlff. 
• ♦ 
If the previous enquiry regarding the Gaurian neuters be correct, it follows, 
that the Gaurian fern, in which corresponds to the Gaurian neuter in 
^Ejf, ^ , etc., (and masc. in ^T, ^EfT) must he derived from a particular Prakrit 
base in ‘S^fT, formed by the affix ; while the Gaurian fern, in W, which 
corresponds to Gaurian neuters in ^ (and masc. in ^), are derived from the 
general base in ^ (fern. ^T); and again, while the Gaurian final ^ of fern, 
nouns is a modification or corruption of the Prakrit final monosyllable ^T, 
the Gaurian final must be a modification of a Prakrit final dissyllable 
This presumption can be shown to be well founded by the following 
considerations. Just as occasionally in Sanskrit masculine and neuter bases 
in (i. e., formed by the affix which is of so frequent application in 
Prakrit) occur, so are also feminine nouns in met with occasionally, and 
all such Sanskrit fern, nouns in end in Gaurian always in ?); e. g., 
Skr. clock, Gaurian Epft ; Skr. earth, Gaurian ; Skr. 
chalk, Gaur. wt; Skr. Gaurian Some of these feminine 
