Thus all masculines are major, all neuters are minor; while feminine words are minor in the singular, but are reckoned as masculines in the plural. In Ordinals as first, second, &c, there are no major forms. Thus ~3o&r* second, s^fS""6 third are used with all genders.
The sun and moon (Surya and Chandra) are always spoken of as (mahat) majors; being the gods Apollo and Adonis. Likewise the names of Dhruva, Sucra and some other stars. Thus in English we still say he for the planet Mars and she for Venus though the word ' star' is neuter.*
This principle pervades every part of Telugu Grammar and will be exemplified in the numerals: of which the original names are neuter. These remarks are necessary to the following rules.
On Numerals.
1 is o called The vowel 2- not being used except in poetry this is spelt ^5" or even ;Hence come the nouns ^)3"*3 (neuter) one; "^aib one man, "?)s"3 one woman. In Sanscrit is the neuter word for one; and is commonly used in Telugu.
2 is -S for which the neuter name is "3ojso; (vulgarly "SosSb becomes 6TMoi& just as Resin is pronounced Rosin.) It is a noun substantive; of which the genitive form is "Bo43. The major form (that is the masculine or feminine form) is St^^, always written Om«bo; Infl. Onss8 and accusative ooo«8p. The word ~&x>!St& (in Sanscrit) \ &$s&£x> is first; andsecondis Bo<§^ which (in Sanscrit) is fi^lcsfisSo. The affix o changes the sense; thus Z>£t& one, 4T* the first. "r3o«b two, 'dog* second. JfoyJSo three, sSxr-F* third, &c. See chapter on the affixes A'E'O'. The sign 6 is usually, with numerals, written thus; third. Vft"6 fourth.
3 is i 5&r»«So (neut.) Ssmnoso (m. f.) <&xr*GT* is third: which (in Sanscrit) is #)ic«S:Sx>. The ordinal names, (first, second, third, &c.) are of the common gender.
- In German the moon is masculine, Dermond: and the sun feminine, Die Sonne. In Arahic too the moon is masculine, and the sun feminine.
