Page:A simplified grammar of the Danish language.djvu/51

Rh Dandser (m.), 'a male dancer;' en Dandserinde (f.), 'a woman dancer;' en Holländer, 'a Dutchman;' en Hollånderinde [sic], 'a Dutchwoman;' en Syerske, 'a workwoman.' (2) By the use of a characteristic noun or pronoun; as, en Bondekone, 'a peasant woman;' en Hunkanin, 'a doe-rabbit.'

Some nouns have changed their gender in the course of time; and in regard to others, it may be said that their right gender is undecided, as in the case of Slags, 'kind,' Helbred, 'health,' Punkt, 'point,' which may be used with an article and adjective of the common, or the neuter gender.

The older and original form of gender may often be determined by the survival of some idiomatic expression; as, at gå i Tåget, 'to be in (a cloud), a muddle;' efter Bogstaven, 'literally,' 'according to the letter,' although Tåge, 'a mist,' is now of the common gender, and Bogstav, 'letter,' is neuter.

The following list gives some examples of the numerous nouns which vary in meaning in accordance with differences of gender:—



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 * en Ark, an ark; || || et Ark, a sheet of paper.
 * en Birk, a birch; || || et Birk, Danish provincial jurisdiction.
 * en Bo, a dwelling; || || et Bo, an estate.
 * en Flor, a bloom; || || et Flor, gauze.
 * en Frö, a frog; || || et Frö, a seed.
 * en Gran, a spruce-fir; || || et Gran, an atom, grain.
 * en Kuld, a cold; || || et Kuld, descendant of same parents.
 * en Flor, a bloom; || || et Flor, gauze.
 * en Frö, a frog; || || et Frö, a seed.
 * en Gran, a spruce-fir; || || et Gran, an atom, grain.
 * en Kuld, a cold; || || et Kuld, descendant of same parents.
 * en Gran, a spruce-fir; || || et Gran, an atom, grain.
 * en Kuld, a cold; || || et Kuld, descendant of same parents.
 * en Kuld, a cold; || || et Kuld, descendant of same parents.