Page:Sanskrit Grammar by Whitney p1.djvu/523

 an adverb before an adjective; other parts of speech are sometimes used adjectively and adverbially in that position.

c. The boundary between descriptive and dependent compounds is not an absolute one; in certain cases it is open to question, for instance, whether a prior noun, or adjective with noun-value, is used more in a case-relation, or adverbially.

d. Moreover, where the final member is a derivative having both noun and adjective value, it is not seldom doubtful whether an adjective compound is to be regarded as descriptive, made with final adjective, or possessive, made with final noun. Sometimes the accent of the word determines its character in this respect, but not always.

e. A satisfactorily simple and perspicuous classification of the descriptive compounds is not practicable; we cannot hold apart throughout the compounds of noun and of adjective value, but may better group both together, as they appear with prefixed elements of various kinds.

1280. The simplest case is that in which a noun as final member is preceded by a qualifying adjective as prior member.

a. In this combination, both noun and adjective may be of any kind, verbal or otherwise. The accent is (as in the corresponding class of dependent noun-compounds: 1267) on the final syllable.

b. Thus, unknown disease,  great wealth,  swift hawk,  black bird,  southern fire,  wide abode,  lower jaw,  other folks,  whole soul,  sole hero,  seven sages,  third libation,  a score diminished by one,  waking sleep,  defending friend,  waning half.

c. There are not a few exceptions as regards accent. Especially, compounds with (in composition, accented ), which itself retains the accent: thus,  all the gods,  every man. For words in, see below, 1287 d. Sporadic cases are , both of which show an irregular shift of tone in the prior member; and a few others.

d. Instead of an adjective, the prior member is in a few cases a noun used appositionally, or with a quasi-adjective value. Thus, king-disease,  priest-sage,  king-sage,  king-tooth,  god-folk,  daughter-person,  creeper named,  the name "mouse",  the word "conquer",  the word "deserted"; or, more figuratively,  house-hell (house which is a hell),  curse-fire (consuming curse).

e. This group is of consequence, inasmuch as in possessive application