-зень

Moksha

Etymology

The objective template V + IO + IT + -n- + IS with all the slots filled in is expected to yield a Common-Mordvinic *kunda-s-aj²-n-zə (using кундамс (kundams) as an example) "he/she/it caught them." In Erzya this produced кундынзе (kundińźe) and in Moksha — кундазень (kundaźeń). The Erzya suffix preserves the object plurality marker -n-, Moksha does not. A false subject marker (Serebrennikov uses the word ложный (ložnyj)) -нь (-ń) is added to the Moksha suffix.

Suffix

-зень • (-źeń)

1. objective conjugation ending indicating that he/she/it carried out actions involving a plural 3rd person object

Derived terms

Moksha terms suffixed with -зень

See also

• -зе (-źe) (he/she/it carried out actions involving a singular 3rd person object)