nondeponent

Nondeponent is a linguistic term used mainly in the study of languages that distinguish deponent and nondeponent verb classes, notably Classical Latin and Ancient Greek. A nondeponent verb is one that has an ordinary active-voice paradigm and does not belong to the class of deponent verbs, which appear only with passive morphology but carry active meanings.

In languages with deponent verbs, the distinction matters for morphology and syntax. Deponent verbs behave as if they are passive in form but are active in meaning; they typically lack true active forms. Nondeponent verbs retain full active morphology and usually participate in passive constructions only in what is called the passive voice, with meanings that align with standard passive syntax.

Examples help clarify. In Latin, nondeponent verbs include amare (to love), videre (to see), regere (to rule): they have active forms such as amo, amavi, amatum; and they also have passive forms like amari, amatus, used to express passive voice. Deponent verbs such as loquor (I speak), nascor (I am born), orior (I rise) use passive endings but have active meanings.

In Ancient Greek, many deponent verbs also exist; nondeponent verbs in Greek show ordinary active morphology, with passive forms used for the passive voice only. The terminology is primarily of historical interest and is encountered in classical grammars and lexicography.

Note that the nondeponent/deponent distinction is not used in all modern languages and is not a mark of contemporary competence in a language; it is a framework for describing certain historical verb systems and helps linguists analyze verb behavior across texts.