This paper proposes a new analysis of various morphological features characterizing different forms of the participle in Earlier Egyptian: graphemic endings and gemination. In both cases, the proposed explanation is based on the idea that participles may show nominal rather than verbal morphology. Syntactic and functional parameters are identified that may explain the hitherto neglected distribution of and endings, and gemination is shown to be better understood in relationship with discur- sive and referential properties of the participle itself that can be regarded as involving a form of define- teness marking rather than TAM values.