§ 180. Masculine Nouns ending in -le (§ 260). (a) Many words in le are diminutives, and follow the gender of their corresponding primitive. Some do not possess a French primitive, but only a Latin or Italian one. un animalcule animalcule (animal) un corpuscule corpuscule (corps, body) un granule un monticule un codicille un violoncelle le vermicelle granule (grain) codicil (code) violoncello, It. (violone, It., bass-viol) vermicelli (ver, worm) un couvercle lid (couvert, cover) § 181. Masculine Nouns ending in -me. (a) Masculine are nouns ending in— 1. -ème, -ême: le thème, le baptéme. (Ex. la crème.) 3. -asme, -isme: le catéchisme, le sarcasme. They mostly come from the Greek. (b) Are also from the Greek: § 184. Masculine Nouns ending in -re. (§ 264.) (a) Most nouns ending in -aire are masculine: le vocabulaire, vocabulary. (b) Nouns in -oire are mostly masculine: un auditoire. (c) From various Latin masculines are derived: (d) From various Latin neuters are derived: 1. Nouns formed from a present participle exactly corresponding. § 185. Masculine Nouns ending in -se. (a) Is regularly masculine: le narcisse narcissus (b) Are irregularly masculine : un antidote un automate (c) From Greek masculines or neuters are derived antidote un labyrinthe labyrinth automatum un squelette skeleton (d) Are also regularly masculine : le buste bust le contraste contrast § 187. Masculine Nouns ending in -ue. (a) From Latin or Greek masculines are: le catalogue catalogue le dialogue le cirque circus (b) From a Latin neuter is: le cantique psalm (c) Are also regularly masculine : dialogue (d) Is irregular : le manque want |