Latin compounds

Abstract

This paper intends to offer a descriptive survey of compounding in Latin, updated with the findings of the most recent literature. In the first part it focuses on the nature of basic constituents of Latin compounds and on the differentiation between compounds and other kinds of constructions involving two or more constituents, such as (parasynthetic) derivatives and free phrases. In the second part the core patterns of Latin compounds are exemplified, focusing on Nominal and Verbal Compounding, and a classification according to formal and semantic characteristics is proposed. Finally conclusions are drawn, the results of the investigation summarized, and some useful questions for future research are highlighted.