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stranger
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stranger
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We are having a discussion as to whether the plural of equine can ever be equines. It seems that equine is already the plural but maybe both are correct. What do you think. Also can you address bovine, canine and feline?
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I am not familiar with the use of equine as a noun. As opposed to bovine, et al., which have become sort of generic terms for all members of a genus, it's an adjective. Doesn't mean you can't use it as a noun, just that I've never heard or read it. What does it mean for you? Another word for horse?
As for the plural, if I used equine as a noun, I'd simply add an -s to form its plural in line with other nouns in English. Or do you see these nouns ending in -ine as mass nouns?
Ceci n'est pas un seing.
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stranger
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What does it mean for you? Another word for horse?
It can mean horse or horses. But a lot of people use equines when using it as a plural noun. I personally think that equine is the only plural of this noun but people in my family have been using and hearing equines for so long they are sure it is correct as well.
Last edited by dubkat; 12/27/2008 5:31 PM. Reason: adding italics
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Pooh-Bah
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As a noun one might use it to mean just anything pertaining to the horse, for instance identifying the human or humans who like them
dalehileman
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²equine
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): -s
: one of the Equidae; specifically : HORSE
[W3]
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[W3]
Yes, I was just saying I never ran across it, and the first dictionary I looked at just gave it an adjectival meaning. I notice that W3 agrees with me about how its plural would be formed. I just thought of ovine for sheep.
Ceci n'est pas un seing.
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²ovine Function: noun Inflected Form(s): -s: a sheep or a closely related animal [emPHAsis mine] 
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stranger
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I'm not sure what this means.
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I'm not sure what this means. at least for the sheep, it means they haven't used their antibaaotic. 
formerly known as etaoin...
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I'm not sure what this means. it means that you form the plural by adding 's'. -ron o.
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Pooh-Bah
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I'm not sure what this means. at least for the sheep, it means they haven't used their antibaaotic.
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I'm not sure what this means. it means that you form the plural by adding 's'. -ron o. In more general terms, it refers to the mechanism in some languages (often called inflected languages) or indicating grammatical categories by added affixes (pre-, in-, or suf-) to a word. In Latin this is notable in the case system where a root of a noun will have a suffix that indicates case and number, e.g.:
Singular Plural
Nominative amicus amici
Genitive amici amicorum
Dative amico amicis
Accusative amicum amicos
Ablative amico amicis
Vocative amice amici
Verbs are similarly inflected for person, tense, aspect, mood, and other features. In English the only remnants of this system are, in nouns, the -s of the regular plural, the -'s or -s' of the possesive, and, in verbs, the -ed of the regular past tense and the -s of the third person singular.
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and, on the lighter side, here's what an "irregular noun" (with exceptions) looks like.. ¹goose Function: noun Inflected Form(s): plural geese; see senses 4 and 5 . . 4 plural gooses : a tailor's smoothing iron with a gooseneck handle 5 plural gooses : an instance of goosing ; specifically : a poke between buttocks 
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Not to mention book the plural of which should be beech but got itself solecized to books.
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stranger
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Great! Thanks. From what source did you get that information tsuwm?
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stranger
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²equine
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): -s
: one of the Equidae; specifically : HORSE
I mean this information.
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I mean this information.The [W3] below the cited entry stands for Webster's Third New International Dictionary ( link).
Ceci n'est pas un seing.
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Here comes little old me with a question I probably should know.
But I don't and computers are not yet two years old in my
possession.
When I click the link to W3I get Wikipedia. Is that
where it should be, or is Webster's Third International found
elsewhere, e.g. under Webster's Third International?
----please, draw me a sheep----
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When I click the link to W3 I get Wikipedia.
As was intended. A nice article on what W3 is. The dictionary is available online, but as a service, like the OED. Though it might be available from your local library online as is the OED in some areas.
Ceci n'est pas un seing.
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stranger
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Should I take this to mean that equine can not be plural without the s?
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Should I take this to mean that equine cannot be plural without the s?
Yes, that's about it.
Ceci n'est pas un seing.
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Thanks zmjezhd
I am grateful for the response.
Now I have to learn how to send those link things. But enough of
my learning for now. Have to put some stuff into practice
before learning too much, it may spill out. Appreciate it.
----please, draw me a sheep----
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Finally getting back to this category!! I had put it off for so long that the more time went by, the more I dreaded what I'd face. But, this being Mother's Day, Hubby cooked dinner and son cleaned up, so I decided I'd put the gift of time to good use.
I just wanted to thank you, Faldage, for posting this; I always like learning things effortlessly:
In more general terms, it refers to the mechanism in some languages (often called inflected languages) or indicating grammatical categories by added affixes (pre-, in-, or suf-) to a word. In Latin this is notable in the case system where a root of a noun will have a suffix that indicates case and number, e.g.:
Code:
Singular Plural
Nominative amicus amici
Genitive amici amicorum
Dative amico amicis
Accusative amicum amicos
Ablative amico amicis
Vocative amice amici
Verbs are similarly inflected for person, tense, aspect, mood, and other features.
In English the only remnants of this system are, in nouns, the -s of the regular plural, the -'s or -s' of the possesive, and, in verbs, the -ed of the regular past tense and the -s of the third person singular.
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