septynis

Septynis is a Lithuanian numeral form meaning seven. It is not the base dictionary form of the number; rather, septynis is a declined form used in specific grammatical contexts. In Lithuanian, numerals decline for gender and case, so septynis appears as the form appropriate for masculine nouns in the accusative singular when the numeral functions as a direct object or in other constructions requiring that case.

In practice, septynis is encountered whenever the numeral seven accompanies a masculine singular noun in a syntactic position that requires the accusative. The base form of the numeral is septyni, which is used in other cases and with nouns of other genders, and in compound numbers such as seventy or seventy-one, where the numeral stem appears in a different phonological shape. Lithuanian numerals, including septyni, form a system that declines with noun gender and grammatical case, and septynis is one of several case-specific variants.

Etymology and cognates: septynis belongs to the Baltic group of languages, with related forms in Latvian and other Baltic languages. The root for seven in Baltic languages is cognate with the Proto-Balto-Slavic and Proto-Indo-European roots that similarly produced words like seven in other branches of the family.

See also: Lithuanian language, cardinal numbers, Lithuanian grammar.