So the plural of ethos is....?

[NooNoo]

I was asked what the plural of ethos is .... and I got stuck... Googling reveals nothing more than discussion and arguement..

Is ethos like information in that the same word it is used in the singular and in the plural?

Anyone have an authoratative reference?

[geoscomp]

Since ethos is used to describe the distinguishing character, sentiment, moral nature, or guiding beliefs of a person, group, or institution there can't be a plural..it encompasses the entire belief system, etc. not a single belief. A group can't have more than one distinguishing character, since distinguishing character encompasses all the individual bits that go to make up the distinguishing character. The only authoritative reference that i can give is that no dictionary I can find gives a plural or a plural use for the word.

[houseisland]

Since ethos is used to describe the distinguishing character, sentiment, moral nature, or guiding beliefs of a person, group, or institution there can't be a plural..it encompasses the entire belief system, etc. not a single belief. A group can't have more than one distinguishing character, since distinguishing character encompasses all the individual bits that go to make up the distinguishing character. The only authoritative reference that i can give is that no dictionary I can find gives a plural or a plural use for the word.

I believe that you are right. The full OED lists no plural form. The Longman Dictionary of Comtemporary English lists it as a singular noun.

_____________________________________________

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It is my pure and virtuous heart that
gives me the strength of ten!

[Platypus]

Maybe the closest to a plural equivalent is ethics

Both ethos and ethic derive from the Greek ethos - "character"

[geoscomp]

But ethics can refer to a particular belief, and ethic is the singular, while ethos refers to a group of beliefs taken as a singular entity..not the same thing at all (liguistically speaking that is)

[NooNoo]

Since ethos is used to describe the distinguishing character, sentiment, moral nature, or guiding beliefs of a person, group, or institution there can't be a plural..it encompasses the entire belief system, etc. not a single belief. A group can't have more than one distinguishing character, since distinguishing character encompasses all the individual bits that go to make up the distinguishing character. The only authoritative reference that i can give is that no dictionary I can find gives a plural or a plural use for the word.

So if you have several groups, each displaying their own ethos... then you have to talk about each group? You cannot write or talk about the ethoses / ethoi of the groups? Interesting.

[Platypus]

That's what we're stuck for, regardless of the actual implication of the word, when we want to use it in a sentence:

"The Greeks had a different ethos to the Romans, so let's compare the two... what? Ethoses? Is it still ethos for plural: "compare the two ethos."?

[rgharper]

That's what we're stuck for, regardless of the actual implication of the word, when we want to use it in a sentence:

"The Greeks had a different ethos to the Romans, so let's compare the two... what? Ethoses? Is it still ethos for plural: "compare the two ethos."?

Or you could just cheat: "...so let's compare the two cultures." :)

[Platypus]

Or you could just cheat: "...so let's compare the two cultures." :)

There are certainly ways around it, in my example you could just let it be understood: "lets compare the two."

It doesn't provide an answer to NooNoo's question though... :)

[NooNoo]

There are certainly ways around it, in my example you could just let it be understood: "lets compare the two."

It doesn't provide an answer to NooNoo's question though... :)
You missed the apostrophe :grin:

[Platypus]

You missed the apostrophe :grin:

I'm so ashamed... :o

Laptop keyboard syndrome claims another victim... :)

[geoscomp]

So if you have several groups, each displaying their own ethos... then you have to talk about each group? You cannot write or talk about the ethoses / ethoi of the groups? Interesting.

I'm thinking that sice the ethos is a grouping of things, you would have to compare each individual part to each individual part. (Besides, weren't the Ethoi those things in HG Wells Time Machine? :) )

[NooNoo]

http://images.barnesandnoble.com/images/7600000/7605773.jpg

[Platypus]

In Australia it's about wombats...

[NooNoo]

I'm thinking that sice the ethos is a grouping of things, you would have to compare each individual part to each individual part.

OK, but can an ethos be broken down into its parts? Isn't ethos a kind of gestalt?

[NooNoo]

I'm thinking that sice the ethos is a grouping of things, you would have to compare each individual part to each individual part. (Besides, weren't the Ethoi those things in HG Wells Time Machine? :) )
http://www.colemanzone.com/images/gp_eloi(6).jpg
Eloi you morlock!

[geoscomp]

Well, if you look at one definition:

The disposition, character, or fundamental values peculiar to a specific person, people, culture, or movement
you would break it down to the individual elements of the disposition, character, etc.

Ahh..Eloi.. :grin: Well, at least I had the first letter correct.

[street1]

ethics can be singular or plural...From the ancient Greek word ethos.

So it is....All for one and one for all.

Damn Goggle#$# Your right NooNoo. :mult:

[geoscomp]

ethics can be singular or plural...From the ancient Greek word ethos.

So it is....All for one and one for all.

Damn Goggle#$# Your right NooNoo. :mult:
Yep but the question wasnt ethics....it was ethos

[houseisland]

I asked my classicist spousal unit. Her response was that in Greek the plural of ethos would be ethoi.

However, I still side with geoscomp that ethos in its existence as an English word does not have a plural.


_____________________________________________

http://i1.tinypic.com/n5ngxw.jpg

It is my pure and virtuous heart that
gives me the strength of ten!

[NooNoo]

So I see a new campaign - let's get the OED working out the rules for ethos! The right for more than one ethos to exist in a sentence must be set out in the dictionary!

[Platypus]

For a while now, the post sequence on Today's Posts has been:

So the plural of ethos is....?
Driving me nuts!

But I agree, it seems probable ethos has no official English plural. An oft quoted rule for this situation is use English rules now that it's used as an English word.

[NooNoo]

For a while now, the post sequence on Today's Posts has been:

So the plural of ethos is....?
Driving me nuts!

But I agree, it seems probable ethos has no official English plural. An oft quoted rule for this situation is use English rules now that it's used as an English word.

And that opens another can of worms

ethoses... pronounced ethosses? or
ethoses .. pronounced ethoh-sez ?
Or perhaps after platypi... ethi ? :grin:

[houseisland]

So I see a new campaign - let's get the OED working out the rules for ethos! The right for more than one ethos to exist in a sentence must be set out in the dictionary!

The full OED lists no plural form. The Longman Dictionary of Comtemporary English lists it as a singular noun.

I do actually have an OED.

_____________________________________________

http://i1.tinypic.com/n5ngxw.jpg

It is my pure and virtuous heart that
gives me the strength of ten!

[NooNoo]

I do actually have an OED.



But are you on the OED committee that updates and adds to the OED?

[houseisland]

No, but one of my Linguistics profs once tried to unload a stack of his reader's cards on me so that I could fill them out and he could mail them in.

:rolleyes:

Get something published using ethoi and then there would be grounds for a submission.

_____________________________________________

http://i1.tinypic.com/n5ngxw.jpg

It is my pure and virtuous heart that
gives me the strength of ten!

[NooNoo]

Get something published using ethoi and then there would be grounds for a submission.



Why ethoi? There is an opportunity here for something more tongue friendly!

[Platypus]

Ethoi is disregarded in Wikipedia reference desk discussions on the subject, in favour of ethe (maybe pronounced aythee like in the Greek). For example the sole occasion the word is used in the New Testament (1 Cor 15:33) it is ethe.

In Greek, ethos can mean either the entire moral nature, which is the meaning we give it in English, or specific customs or habits, with the difference inferred from context.

Ethe is pointed out as almost always indicating the specific, so being unsuitable as a plural for the English meaning. A counter to that could be if we aren't completely compliant with Greek usage with ethos, should we have to be with ethoi/ethe?

[El_Squid]

Moose by any other name, is still singular/plural. Let's leave it at ethos and get the plurality/singularity from context, ey wot? :rolleyes:

[street1]

http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/ref/vampire_squid

Flash:Oaklahoma children can no longer play outdoors after dark.
See above link.

The only hope is the grouping of ethos by Mayor Ethoi.

[slgrieb]

Trust me, (please don't make me drag out all those old textbooks!) the standard plural ending for a Greek noun ending in os is oi. Dynatos (a mighty one, a lord, etc) and Dynatoi. Doruphoros (a spear carrier) and Doruphoroi. Akritos (a Byzantine border noble) and Akritoi. Kataphractos (an armored horseman) and Kataphractoi. Psilos (a skirmisher) and Psiloi.

The reason the plural of "ethos" doesn't show many entries in standard encyclopedias and dictionaries, is that it isn't used in common English. We speak of Billie the Bard's Ethos, or whatever. But, just like the idea of "One man, one vote!" we have the parallel concept of "One man, one Ethos!" And, therefore, "Many men, many votes", and "Many men, many Ethoi".

[NooNoo]

Oaklahoma kids live at 700m below sea level? :D

[Pergolesi]

It looks like you're in need of....ClassicsWoman! Ethos is an irregular (contracted) third declension ancient greek noun, neuter gender. Its nominative and accusative (used as a subject or normal object in the sentence) is ethe, with a long final e. It sounds eeth-air. Don't trust slgrieb, it's not a standard greek noun! ;)

[NooNoo]

It looks like you're in need of....ClassicsWoman! Ethos is an irregular (contracted) third declension ancient greek noun, neuter gender. Its nominative and accusative (used as a subject or normal object in the sentence) is ethe, with a long final e. It sounds eeth-air. Don't trust slgrieb, it's not a standard greek noun! ;)


Dear Lord... and I get told off for geek speak!! :eek2:

Umm does that mean it doesn't have a plural?

Oh BTW, welcome to Windrivers Pergolesi