Conjugation Stems
In Oscan, like Latin or Greek, conjugations have different stems. In this lesson, we will show the stem of each conjugation and some of their parallels in Latin.
In the First Conjugation, like in Latin, the stem is based in a. Thus, some examples of verbs here are dadíkatted, meaning having dedicated (dedicavit in Latin), where you can see how the -a ending is shown alongside the perfect personal ending, and sakahíter, meaning having consecrated (sanciatur in Latin), is similarly also formed in this way (cf. sak- is an Oscan relative of the Latin sacer). Commonly, the First Conjugation includes frequentatives, showing repeated action.
In the Second Conjugation, the stem is based in e. However, there is also some ambiguity as to whether the letter i is equal to e, which leads to some of the words being spelled with an e, rather than an i. Some examples of these words include turumiiad, it is being twisted (torqueatur in Latin); líkítud, allow (liceto in Latin), or kasit, it is right (decet in Latin). Commonly, the Second Conjugation includes denominative verbs, verbs from nouns, and causatives, which show the reason for an action.
In the Third Conjugation, the stem is based in e or o. Thus, there are words like uincter, it is conquered (vincitur in Latin); actud, it drives (agito in Latin), or didest, it will give (dabit in Latin). Commonly, the Third Declension included words that feature reduplication in the present form (in Latin, some examples would be sisto or gigno), presents that end in -no (e.g. cerno), or presents with inserted nasals (e.g. rumpo, vinco).
In the Fourth Conjugation, the stem is based in ī. Some examples are heriiad, the subjunctive third-person singular present (capiat in Latin); fakiiad, the subjunctive third-person singular present (faciat in Latin) or sakruvit, it makes sacred (sacrat in Latin). The Fourth Conjugation also prominently features denominative verbs. In the third-person plural, there are two endings: -ent and -int. It is not known which is earlier.
Source: Carl Darling Buck’s A Grammar of Oscan and Umbrian
