n -a, and are
declined like porta; as, grammatica, _grammar_; musica, _music_; rhetorica,
_rhetoric_.

2. Some other peculiarities occur, especially in poetry.

* * * * *

SECOND DECLENSION.

o-Stems.

23. Pure Latin nouns of the Second Declension end in -us, -er, -ir,
Masculine; -um, Neuter. Originally -us in the Nominative of the Masculine
was -os; and -um of the Neuters -om. So also in the Accusative.

Nouns in -us and -um are declined as follows:--

Hortus, _garden_; Bellum, _war_;
stem, horto-. stem, bello-.
SINGULAR.
TERMINATION. TERMINATION.
_Nom._ hortus -us bellum -um
_Gen._ horti -i belli -i
_Dat._ horto -o bello -o
_Acc._ hortum -um bellum -um
_Voc._ horte -e bellum -um
_Abl._ horto -o bello -o

PLURAL.
_Nom._ horti -i bella -a
_Gen._ hortorum -orum bellorum -orum
_Dat._ hortis -is bellis -is
_Acc._ hortos -os bella -a
_Voc._ horti -i bella -a
_Abl._ hortis -is bellis -is

Nouns in -er and -ir are declined as follows:--

Puer, _boy_; Ager, _field_; Vir, _man_;
stem, puero- stem, agro- stem, viro-
SINGULAR. TERMINATION.
_Nom._ puer ager vir Wanting
_Gen._ pueri agri viri -i
_Dat._ puero agro viro -o
_Acc._ puerum agrum virum -um
_Voc._ puer ager vir Wanting
_Abl._ puero agro viro -o

PLURAL.
_Nom._ pueri agri viri -i
_Gen._ puerorum agrorum virorum -orum
_Dat._ pueris agris viris -is
_Acc._ pueros agros viros -os
_Voc._ pueri agri viri -i
_Abl._ pueris agris viris -is

1. Note that in words of the type of puer and vir the final vowel of the
stem has disappeared in the Nominative and Vocative Singular.