Female Spearwielder

[Scratchy]

Hi there,

i know that Hasta means spear and Hastatus means spearwielder, am i right in the assumption that Hastatus defines strictly a male spear wielder or can it be used as a neutral word as well? If not, would the female equivalent be Hastata?
Also, what would be the plural or word for a group of both female and male spearwielders?

Have a good day!

 

[Pacifica]

am i right in the assumption that Hastatus defines strictly a male spear wielder or can it be used as a neutral word as well?

It can mean a male spearwielder, or a spearwielder of unknown or unspecified gender. For instance, if you make a general statement that applies to all spearwielders regardless of gender, such as "a spearwielder is someone who fights with a spear", you'll use the masculine form hastatus. Or if you say "some spearwielder did this" without knowing their gender, you'll use that form as well.

If not, would the female equivalent be Hastata?

Yes, hastata would be the form you'd use to refer to a female spearwielder specifically.

Also, what would be the plural or word for a group of both female and male spearwielders?

Hastati.