— 172 —
Most nouns assume the crude-form, when they stand as
the former-member of a compound.
Ex: tí-kkal (=firestone, flint), nari-ppal (=tiger-tooth), mazha-
the rainy season), peṇ-kula (=woman-killing),
uḷ-ttár (=the 'internal flower', the mind), rá-kkaṇ (=the night-
eye, i. e. the owl), pilá-v-ila (=a jack-tree-leaf). In these the
crude-forms 'tí', 'nari', 'mazha', 'peṇ', 'uḷ', 'rá', 'pilá' stand as
the first members of the compounds.
210. Must the former-member of a compound always be
a noun?
No, The adverbial past participle sometimes forms the
former-member of a compound.
Ex: aṭichchu-taḷi (=sprinkling after sweeping), tíṇṭi-kkuḷi
(=washing after defilement).
211. What form do nouns ending in 'an' 'am' assume, when
they become the former-members of a compound
noun?
'N' and 'm' are sometimes elided,
Ex: mara-kkalam (=a wooden bowl), káṭṭáḷa-pati (=the prince
of the forest tribes).
And sometimes not.
Ex: Chéramán-náṭu (= the country of Cherumán), muzha-kál
(=knee), kuḷang-ngara (=the bank of a tank).
212. When 'an' 'am' are elided and the latter-member
of the compound begins with a vowel, what is the usage?
The usage varies in this case.
