quent in Spanish, especially the diminutive.

_On_ (_m._), _ona_ (_f._)[177] denote augmentation, as--

Libro, book
Libron, large book

[Footnote 177: Feminine nouns, however, generally take =on= and become
masculine, as--

Un mujeron: A tall woman.
Except when ambiguity might arise, as:

Un muchachon: A tall or big boy Una muchachona: A tall or big girl.]

_ito_ (_m._), _ita_ (_f._), _ico_ (_m._), _ica_ (_f._)

Denote diminution (to which an idea of endearment is always attached
which is natural in Spanish when speaking of little objects in the
ordinary way.)

If for any reason disparagement or insignificance is suggested then
_illo, illa, uelo, uela_, are used instead.

Other terminations less used are _azo, acho, onazo, achon, ote, astro,
aco_, and a few others (augmentative, suggesting (generally)
disparagement); _ete, in, ino, itito, itico, itillo_, and a few others
(diminutive). If a noun ends in a vowel, this is elided[178] before
adding the termination.

[Footnote 178: If a noun ends in _n_ (except proper names like "Juan")
or _r, ito, ico, illo, uelo_, change into =cito, cico, cillo, zuelo=. If
a noun of one syllable ends in a consonant, or a noun of two syllables
ends in _e_ or _io_, or contains a diphthong, _ito, ico_, etc., change
into =ecito, ecico=, etc. If a noun of one syllable ends in a vowel,
_ito, ico_, etc., become =ececito, ececico=, etc. Other slight changes
occur also.]

The Augmentative and Diminutive terminations have no determinate
meaning: they are vague and indefinite and consequently when preciseness
is required we must use the adjectives "grande," "pequeno," etc. (which
can be employed conjointly with the terminations), as--

Me dio dos librones gruesos y tres libritos delgados: He gave me two
heavy big books and three small ones.

Students should use the terminations _on_ and _ito_ but no others until
they become familiar with them with reading, as they cannot be used
indiscriminately with all nouns.

The termination _azo_ serves also to indicate an injury or explosion
from a weapon, as--

Un sablazo (a sabre-cut)
Un punetazo (a blow with the fist)
Un navajazo (a stab with a knife)
Un canonazo (a cannon-shot)

With some weapons some other terminations are used--

Una cuchillada (same as navajazo)
Una paliza (a thrashing with a stick)

=Traer= (to bring).

_Pres. Part._, Trayendo (_i_ unstressed between two vowels always
changes into _y_).
_Pres.