These are many and must agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns which they qualify. They are declined like nouns of different declensions, having the same cases and numbers, and may be divided into two classes.

Class I. includes all but fourteen of the adjectives used in prescriptions. The nominative has three distinct endings: us, masculine, declined like the second declension of nouns; a, feminine, declined like the first declension; and um, neuter, declined like the second declension. Example:

Singular

(2d decl.)

(1st decl.)

(2d decl.)

Masc.

Fern.

Neut.

Nom.

Fluidus,

Fluida,

Fluidum.

Gen.

Fluidi,

Fluidae,

Fluidi.

Acc.

Fluidum,

Fluidam,

Fluidum.

Abl.

Fluido,

Fluida,

Fluido.

Plural.

Nom.

Fluidi,

Fluidae,

Fluida.

Gen.

Fluidorum,

Fluidarum,

Fluidorum.

Acc.

Fluidos,

Fluidas,

Fluida.

Abl.

Fluidis,

Fluidis,

Fluidis.

Class II. includes the remaining fourteen adjectives in use. These, with few exceptions, have two, instead of three endings: one in is for both masculine and feminine genders, and another in e for the neuter. Adjectives of this class are declined like nouns of the third declension. Example :

Singular

Masc. and Fern.

Neut.

Nom.

Dulcis,

Dulce.

Gen.

Dulcis,

Dulcis.

Acc.

Dtilcem,

Dulce.

Abl.

Dulci,

Dulci.

(The form Dulce is sometimes wrongly used for the ablative.)

Plural

Nom.

Dulces,

Dulcia.

Gen.

Dulcium,

Dulcium.

Acc.

Dulces,

Dulcia.

Abl.

Dulcibus,

Dulcibus.

The exceptions in nominative endings are -

Singular

Masc. and Fern.

Neut.

(1)

Nom.

Effervescens,

Effervescens.

Gen.

Effervescentis,

Effervescentis.

Acc.

Effervescentem,

Effervescens.

Abl.

Effervescente, or -i,

Effervescente, or i.

Plural

Nom.

Effervescentes,

Effervescentia.

Gen.

Effervescentium,

Effervescentium.

Acc.

Effervescentes,

Effervescentia.

Abl.

Effervescentibus,

Effervescentibus.

Singular

(2)

Nom.

Tricolor,

Tricolor.

Gen.

Tricoloris,

Tricoloris.

Acc.

Tricolorem,

Tricolor.

Abl.

Tricolore, or -i,

Tricolore, or -i.

Plural

Nom.

Tricolores,

Tricolora.

Gen.

Tricolorum,

Tricolorum.

Acc.

Tricolores,

Tricolora.

Abl.

Tricoloribus,

Tricoloribus.

Singular

Masc. and Fern.

Neut.

(3)

Nom.

Fortior,

Fortius.

Gen.

Fortioris,

Fortioris.

Acc.

Fortiorem,

Fortius.

Abl.

Fortiore, or -i,

Fortiore, or -i.

Plural

Nom.

Fortiores,

Fortiora.

Gen.

Fortiorum,

Fortiorum.

Acc.

Fortiores,

Fortiora.

Abl.

Fortioribus,

Fortioribus.

Numerals as far as quatuor are declined like adjectives of three terminations:

Singular

Masc.

Fern.

Neut.

(1)

Nom.

Unus,

Una,

Unum.

Gen.

Unlus,

Unlus,

Unius.

Acc.

Unum,

Unam,

Unum.

Abl.

Uno,

Una,

Uno.

Plural

(2)

Nom.

Duo,

Duae,

Duo.

Gen.

Duorum,

Duarum,

Duorum.

Acc.

Duos,

Duas,

Duo.

Abl.

Duobus,

Duabus,

Duobus.

Plural

Masc.

Fern.

Neut.

(3)

Nom.

Tres,

Tres,

Tria.

Gen.

Trium,

Trium,

Trium.

Acc.

Tres,

Tres,

Tria.

Abl.

Tribus,

Tribus,

Tribus.

[The ordinal numbers, primus, secundus, tertius, etc., are not used in prescription-writing.]