Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.
Dismiss

Possessive Plural?

166 views
Skip to first unread message

Onoit

unread,
Apr 17, 2008, 11:45:51 AM4/17/08
to
What is the possessive plural of 'seamstress'?
Is it 'seamstresseses'?


Athel Cornish-Bowden

unread,
Apr 17, 2008, 12:14:35 PM4/17/08
to
On 2008-04-17 17:45:51 +0200, "Onoit" <on...@sno.tso> said:

> What is the possessive plural of 'seamstress'?
> Is it 'seamstresseses'?

No, it's formed like the possessives of any other plural noun that ends
in s: seamstresses'

It's not a word you're likely to need very often (unless you work in a
workshop full of seamstresses).

Some people make the possessive forms of singular nouns that end in s
in the same way: seamstress'

But I don't. I'd write seamstress's
--
athel

Onoit

unread,
Apr 17, 2008, 12:28:22 PM4/17/08
to
Thanks. I was puzzled, and what you say seems right.

The question arose from reflecting on 2 Corinthians 9.6.


Adrian Bailey

unread,
Apr 17, 2008, 12:39:07 PM4/17/08
to
"Onoit" <on...@sno.tso> wrote in message
news:-9edneeyx4U555rVnZ2dnUVZ_o6knZ2d@internetamerica...

> Thanks. I was puzzled, and what you say seems right.
>
> The question arose from reflecting on 2 Corinthians 9.6.

The only way I can make a connection between that verse and seamstresses is
if you have misunderstood the verse. The sowing referred to is of seeds, not
of garments.

Adrian


R H Draney

unread,
Apr 17, 2008, 4:23:29 PM4/17/08
to
Athel Cornish-Bowden filted:

In suitable company (like AUE, for instance), I might write "seamstrorum"....r


--
What good is being an executive if you never get to execute anyone?

Pat Durkin

unread,
Apr 17, 2008, 4:39:24 PM4/17/08
to
R H Draney wrote:
> Athel Cornish-Bowden filted:
>>
>> On 2008-04-17 17:45:51 +0200, "Onoit" <on...@sno.tso> said:
>>
>>> What is the possessive plural of 'seamstress'?
>>> Is it 'seamstresseses'?
>>
>> No, it's formed like the possessives of any other plural noun that
>> ends in s: seamstresses'
>>
>> It's not a word you're likely to need very often (unless you work in
>> a workshop full of seamstresses).
>>
>> Some people make the possessive forms of singular nouns that end in s
>> in the same way: seamstress'
>>
>> But I don't. I'd write seamstress's
>
> In suitable company (like AUE, for instance), I might write
> "seamstrorum"....r

What? Not "sempstresses'"?

Barbara Bailey

unread,
Apr 17, 2008, 5:14:08 PM4/17/08
to
"Onoit" <on...@sno.tso> wrote in
news:VtWdnfqOT8Mx7ZrVnZ2dnUVZ_r6rnZ2d@internetamerica:

> What is the possessive plural of 'seamstress'?
> Is it 'seamstresseses'?
>

One "es" fewer: seamstresses'

The Grammer Genious

unread,
Apr 17, 2008, 9:12:57 PM4/17/08
to
"R H Draney" <dado...@spamcop.net> wrote >

> In suitable company (like AUE, for instance), I might write
> "seamstrorum"....

But I think the feminine would be seamstrarum


0 new messages