Early perceptions of the Latvian definite adjective

Latvian adjectives can be marked for definiteness.* Thus the marked, definite form (vecais koks: the old tree ) contrasts both formally and functionally with the unmarked, indefinite form (vecs koks: an old tree), and the adjectival system contains two parallel but distinct paradigms. There is no mention of any such distinction in the work of the earliest grammarians, however, and we may safely assume that they were unaware of it.' Mancelius, for example, while glossing the German Grosvater ('grandfather') as watzais Tahws, provides tas schehliex Deews as the Latvian equivalent of Der gnadiger (sic!) GOtt ('the merciful God').1 Langius happily juxtaposes Swahtais (ein Heiliger: 'a saint") and Swahts Gurr s ( der H [eilige) Geist: 'the Holy Ghost').2 The adjectival paradigms supplied by the earliest grammarians list the indefinite forms only.3 The distinction between the parallel definite and indefinite declensions of adjectives is neutralized, logically enough, in the superlative degree, giving