At 11:45 AM 3/31/2004 -0500, Kevin Preuss wrote: >If it is a feminine irregular noun of the third declension, which arx/acris >(meaning citadel) is, the adjectective would compliment it in fem. gender, >but with different declension. Now I think we're getting closer to the truth. The Latin word Acis can be either masculine or feminine. The meaning changes with the gender change. In the masculine sense, it refers to Acis of Acis and Galatea fame. In the feminine sense, it is the name of one of the Greek islands. Incidentally, if you visit the Greek islands (the Cyclades) today, you will hear the Greeks pronouncing the C as a K, as they have done for thousands of years. I point this out to give succor to those few of you who like me try to use the historically appropriate pronunciations, and to admonish those of you who think these pronunciation schemes are something someone dreamed up recently. Try it with Cyclamen! Salisbury's Acis was based on A. autumnalis. Guess what? The Latin word autumnalis can be either masculine or feminine. Thus, one cannot determine the gender of the combination Acis autumnalis by mere autopsy. So we are left wondering: which gender did Salisbury have in mind? Perhaps someone with access to Salisbury's account can tell us if he indicated his intentions. An IPNI search suggests that most workers have taken the name to be feminine, although there is an entry for Acis roseus Sweet & Loud. If Salisbury made reference to the Acis and Galatea legend, then the word Acis should be masculine when used for these plants. Jim McKenney jimmckenney@starpower.net Montgomery County, Maryland, USA, zone 7, where I'm beginning to wonder if the role of Acis is a trouser role.