[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Archaeology, epigraphy and coins](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy) › [Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D.](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003) › c27.s28 # Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c27.s28: 7.25 Noun stems as attributes Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c27.s28 - **Language:** English ### 7.25 Noun stems as attributes ### [c27.s28.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c27.s28.1) Nouns which perform an adjectival function by qualifying other nouns which follow them may be called attributes to distinguish them from true adjectives. Noun stems occur in the attributive position as follows: ### [c27.s28.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c27.s28.2) (a) without any change ### [c27.s28.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c27.s28.3) | | (e.g.) \*poṉ-vāṇikaṉ\* | 'gold merchant' | 69.2.a-b | ### [c27.s28.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c27.s28.4) (b) as bare stem after elision of the neuter suffix \*-am\* ### [c27.s28.5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c27.s28.5) | | (e.g.) \*kala nel\* | '\*kalams\* of paddy' | 16.4-5 | ### [c27.s28.6](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c27.s28.6) (c) as bare stem after elision of the PNG suffix \*-aṉ\* ### [c27.s28.7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c27.s28.7) | | (e.g.) \*kaṇa(k)ka ataṉ\* | 'Ataṉ, the accountant' | 40.2-3 | ### [c27.s28.8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c27.s28.8) (d) with the attributive suffix \*-a\* ### [c27.s28.9](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c27.s28.9) | | (e.g.) \*nanta-a-siri-\* | 'a personal name' | 1.2 | | | \*mācakōṭu\* (\*mācu\* + \*a-\*) | lit., 'misty peak', a place name | 120.1 | --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c27.s28](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c27.s28) · Pramāṇa