Originally posted by Rich Barcellos
c. = common gender; The teacher's guide says, "Some words like hostis and civis, can refer either to a male or female and are indicated common gender, c.
OK. I see where they are coming from. Not correct (in this Classicists opinion) but it is understandable.
The standard way of referring to such a noun is by m and f:
canis is, m and f 2 CAV-, a dog: ater alienus, T.: acer, H.: canes venatici: obscena, shameless, V.: Echidnea, i. e. Cerberus, O.: caeruleis canibus resonantia saxa, the barking mouths (of Scylla), V.: Infernae canes, the dogs of Hecate, H. "”Sing collect.: trudit multÄ cane Apros, a pack, H."”Provv.: cane peius et angui vitare aliquid, H.: canis a corio numquam absterrebitur uncto, will never be frightened from the greasy hide, H.: canis timidus vehementius latrat quam mordet, his bark is worse than his bite, Cu."”Fig., a term of reproach, dog, T.; of a backbiter, H.; of a miser, H.; of parasites: multa canibus suis (opus esse)."”Meton., the constellation, the Dog (canis maior, or Sirius; and canis minor, or Procyon): adverso cedens Canis occidit astro, i. e. goes down backwards, V."”In play, the worst throw (of dice), dog-throw (opp. Venus), O., Pr. (from Lewis'
Elementary Latin Dictionary)
