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Greek · Grammars

Elementary Greek Grammar: PART II: INFLECTION: VERBS

Elementary Greek Grammar by WIlliam W. Goodwin, Ph.D., LL.D., Eliot Professor of Greek literature in Harvard College. Revised and enlarged edition. Boston: published by Ginn & Company, 1887.

Pages 79–179 of the book.

§103

AUGMENT OF DIPHTONGS

Verbs beginning with a diphthong take the temporal augment on the first vowel of the diphthong, αι or becoming , οι becoming . E.g. Αἰτέω, ask, ᾔτησα; οἰκέω, dwell, ᾤκησα, ᾠκημένος; αὐξάνω, increase, ηὔξησα, ηὔξημαι, ηὐξήθην; ᾄδω, sing, ᾖδον.

Note. Ου is never augmented. Ει and ευ are generally without augment; but MSS. and editors differ in regard to many forms, as εἴκασα or ᾔκασα (εἰκάζω, liken), εὗδον or ηὗδον (εὕδω, sleep), εὕρηκα and εὑρέθην or ηὕρηκα and ηὑρέθην (εὑρίσκω, find), εὐξάμην or ηὐξάμην (εὔχομαι, pray). Editions vary also in the augment of αὐαίνω, dry, and of some verbs beginning with οι, as οἰακοστροφέω, steer.

§102

ATTIC REDUPLICATION

Some verbs beginning with a, e, or o augment the perfect and pluperfect by prefixing their first two letters to the common temporal augment. This is called the Attic reduplication. E.g. Ἀρόω, plough, ἀρ-ήρομαι; ἐμέω, vomit, ἐμήμεκα; ἐλέγχω, prove, ἐλήλεγμαι, ἐληλέγμην; ἐλαύνω (ἐλα-), drive, ἐλήλακα, ἐλήλαμαι; ἀκούω, hear, ἀκήκοα (§ 110, IV. d, N. 1).

Other verbs which have the Attic reduplication are ἀγείρω, ἀλείφω, ἀλέω, ἐγείρω, ἐρείδω, ἔρχομαι, ἐσθίω, ὄλλυμι, ὄμνυμι, ὀρύττω, φέρω. See also, for Ionic or poetic forms, αἱρέω, ἀλάομαι, ἀλυκτέω, ἀραρίσκω, ἐρείπω, ἔχω, ἠμύω, (ὀδυ-) ὀδώδυσμαι, ὄζω, ὁράω (ὄπωπα), ὀρέγω, ὄρνυμι.

The Attic reduplication (so called by the Greek grammarians) is not peculiarly Attic, and is found in Homer.

Note. 1. Ἐγείρω (ἐγερ-), rouse, has 2 perf. ἐγρ-ήγορα (for ἐγ-ηγορ-α, cf. § 109, 3), but ἐγ-ήγερμαι. For the Attic reduplication in ἤγαγον, 2 aor. of ἄγω, in ἤνεγκα and ἤνεγκον of φέρω, and in Homeric ἄλαλκον of ἀλέξω, see § 100, 2, N. 4.

Note. 2. The pluperfect rarely takes an augment in addition to the Attic reduplication. But ἀκούω, hear, ἀκήκοα, generally has ἤκηκόειν in Attic; and ἀπ-ωλώλει (of ἀπ-όλλυμι, ἀπ-όλωλα), ὠμωμόκει (of ὄμνυμι, ὀμώμοκα), and δι-ωρώρυκτο (of δι-ορύσσω, δι-ορώρυγμαι) occur in Attic prose. See Homeric pluperfects of ἐλαύνω and ἐρείδω.

§104

SYLLABIC AUGMENT BEFORE A VOWEL

Some verbs beginning with a vowel take the syllabic augment, as if they began with a consonant. When ε follows the augment, εε is contracted into ει. E.g. ὠθέω (ὠθ-), push, ἔωσα, ἔωσμαι, ἐώσθην; ἁλίσκομαι, be captured, ἑάλωκα, 2 aor. ἑάλων (or ἥλων); ἄγνυμι (ἀγ-), break, ἔαξα, 2 pf. ἔαγα; ἔρδω, do, Ionic, 2 pf. ἔοργα; ὠνέομαι, buy, ἐωνούμην, &c.; ἐθίζω, accustom, εἴθισα, εἴθικα (from ἐεθ-); ἐάω, permit, εἴασα, εἴακα.

These verbs are, further, ἑλίσσω, ἕλκω, ἕπω, ἐργάζομαι, ἕρπω or ἑρπύζω, ἑστιάω, ἔχω, ἵημι (-), with the aorists εἶδον and εἷλον (αἱρέω), the perfects εἴωθα (ϝεθ-, ὠθ- for ϝεωθ-) and ἔοικα (ϝικ-), and plpf. εἱστήκειν (for ἑεστ-) of ἵστημι. See also Ionic and poetic forms under ἁνδάνω, ἅπτω, εἴδομαι, εἴλω, εἶπον, εἴρω, ἔλπω, ἕννυμι, ἵζω, and ἕζομαι.

Note 1. Ὁράω, see, and ἀν-οίγω, open, generally take the temporal augment after the syllabic; as ἑώρων, ἑώρακα (or ἑόρακα), ἑώραμαι; ἀν-έῳγον, ἀν-έῳξα (rarely ἤνοιγον, ἤνοιξα, § 105, N. 3). Homer has ἑήνδανον from ἁνδάνω, please: ἐῳνοχόει imp. of οἰνοχοέω, pour wine; and 2 plpf. ἐώλπει and ἐώργει from ἔλπω and ἔρδω. Ἑορτάζω, keep holiday (Hdt. ὁρτάζω) has Attic imp. ἑώρταζον.

Note 2. This form of augment is explained on the supposition that these verbs originally began with the consonant ϝ or some other consonant, which was afterwards dropped: thus εἶδον, saw, is for ἔϝιδον (cf. Latin vid-i); ἔοργα is for ϝέϝοργα, from stem ϝεργ- (§ 110, IV. d), cf. Eng. work (German Werk); and ἕρπω, creep, is for σ-ερπω (cf. Latin serpo).

§105

AUGMENT OF COMPOUND VERBS


1. In compound verbs, the augment follows the preposition. Prepositions (except περί and πρό) drop a final vowel before the augment ε. E.g. Προσ-γράφω, προσ-έγραφον, προσ-γέγραφα; εἰσ-άγω, εἰσ-ῆγον (§ 26, N. 1); ἐκ-βάλλω, ἐξ-έβαλλον (§ 13, 2); συλ-λέγω, συν-έλεγον; συμ-πλέκω, συν-έπλεκον (§ 16, 5); συγ-χέω, συν-έχεον, συγ-κέχυκα; συσκευάζω, συν-εσκεύαζον (§ 16, 6, N. 3); ἀπο-βάλλω, ἀπ-έβαλλον; — but περι-έβαλλον and προ-έλεγον. See § 131, 7.

Note 1. Πρό may be contracted with the augment; as προὔλεγον and προὔβαινον, for προέλεγον and προέβαινον.

Note 2. Some verbs not themselves compounds, but derived from compounds, are augmented after the preposition; as ὑποπτεύω (from ὕποπτος), suspect, ὑπώπτευον, as if the verb were from ὑπό and ὀπτεύω; ἀπολογέομαι, defend one's self, ἀπ-ελογησάμην; see also ἐκκλησιάζω. Παρανομέω, transgress law, παρηνόμουν, &c. is very irregular. Κατηγορέω (from κατήγορος), accuse, has κατηγόρουν (not ἐκατηγόρουν). See διαιτάω and διακονέω in the Catalogue of Verbs.

Note 3. A few verbs take the augment before the preposition, and others have both augments; as καθέζομαι, sit, ἐκαθέζετο; καθίζω, ἐκάθιζον; καθεύδω, sleep, ἐκάθευδον and καθηῦδον (Ep. καθεῦδον); ἀνέχω, ἠνειχόμην, ἠνεσχόμην (or ἠνσχόμην). See ἀφίημι, ἀμφιέννυμι, ἀμφιγνοέω, ἀμπίσχομαι, ἐνοχλέω, and ἀμφισβητέω, dispute, ἠμφισβήτουν and ἠμφεσβήτουν (as if the last part were -σβητέω).


2. Indirect compounds of δυσ-, ill, and occasionally those of εὖ, well, are augmented after the adverb, if the following part begins with a vowel. E.g. Δυσαρεστέω, be displeased, δυσηρέστουν; εὐεργετέω, do good, εὐηργέτηκα (or εὐεργ-).

Note. In other cases, compounds of δυσ- are augmented at the beginning, and those of εὖ generally omit the augment.


3. Other indirect compounds are augmented at the beginning. See, however, ὁδοποιέω.

§106

OMISSION OF AUGMENT


1. In the imperfect and aorist, the temporal augment is often omitted by Herodotus; as in ἀμείβετο and ἀμείψατο (for ἠμείβετο and ἠμείψατο); and both temporal and syllabic augment by the Epic and Lyric poets, as in ὁμίλεον, ἔχον, δῶκε (for ὡμίλεον, εἶχον, ἔδωκε).

Note. The reduplication or augment of the perfect stem is very rarely omitted. But Homer has δέχαται for δεδέχαται, from δέχομαι, receive; and Herodotus occasionally omits the temporal augment, as in καταρρώδηκας (for κατ-ηρρ-), and he makes ἐπαλιλλόγητο as plpf. of παλιλλογέω, repeat.


2. The Attic poets sometimes omit the augment in (lyric) choral passages, seldom in the dialogue of the drama. In Attic prose we have χρῆν for ἐχρῆν (impf. of χρή), must.

§107-108

VERBAL STEMS. Formation of the Present Stem from the Simple Stem.

§ 107.

That we may know to what present any verbal form is to be referred, we must understand the relations which exist in different classes of verbs between the present stem and the simple stem (§ 92, 2). When these are not identical (as they are in λύω), the present stem is generally an enlarged form of the simple stem; as in κόπτ-ω (κοπ-), strike, μανθάν-ω (μαθ-), learn, δοκέ-ω (δοκ-), believe. In a few very irregular verbs, however, there is no connection to be seen between the present stem and the stem or stems which are in use in other tenses; as in φέρω (φερ-), bear, fut. οἴσω (οἰ-), aor. ἤνεγκα (ἐνεγκ-).


§ 108.

Verbs in ω are divided into eight classes with reference to the formation of the present stem from the simple stem.


I. First Class. (Stem unchanged.) Here the present is formed directly from the single stem of the verb; as in λύ-ω, loose, λέγ-ω, say, πλέκ-ω, weave, ἄγ-ω, lead, γράφ-ω, write.

Note. The pure verbs of this class which irregularly retain a short vowel in certain tenses are given in § 109, 1, N. 2; those which insert σ in certain tenses, in § 109, 2; and the verbs which add ε to the stem in some or all tenses not of the present system (as βούλομαι), in § 109, 8. These and other verbs of this class which are peculiar in their inflection will be found in the Catalogue of Verbs.


II. Second Class. (Lengthened Stems.)


1. This includes all verbs with mute simple stems which form the present stem by lengthening a short vowel, to η, to ει (sometimes to ), to ευ (sometimes to ); as τήκ-ω (τᾰκ-), melt, λείπ-ω (λῐπ-), leave, φεύγ-ω (φῠγ-), flee, τρῑ́β-ω (τρῐβ-), rub, ψῡ́χ-ω (ψῠχ-), cool.

Here belong, further, κήδω (κᾰδ-), λήθω (λᾰθ-), σήπω (σᾰπ-), ἀλείφω (ἀλῐφ-), ἐρείπω (ἐρῐπ-), πείθω (πῐθ-), στείβω (στῐβ-), στείχω (στῐχ-), φείδομαι (φῐδ-), θλίβω (θλῐβ-), πνίγω (πνῐγ-), πυνθάνομαι (πῠθ-), τεύχω (τῠχ-), τύφω (τῠφ-), φρύγω (φρῠγ-); with Ionic or poetic ἐρείκω (ἐρῐκ-), ἐρεύγομαι (ἐρῠγ-), κεύθω (κῠθ-), τμήγω (τμᾰγ-), and (θᾰπ- or τᾰφ-) stem of τέθηπα and ἔταφον; see also εἴκω (ἰκ-). Τρώγω (τρᾰγ-) irregularly lengthens to ω. See also § 108, V. Note 1 (b).


2. Six verbs in εω with stems in belong by formation to this class. These originally lengthened to ευ, which became εϝ (§ 1, N. 2) before a vowel, and finally dropped ϝ and left ε; as πλῠ-, πλευ-, πλεϝ-ω, πλέ-ω, sail. These verbs are θέω (θῠ-), run, νέω (νῠ-), swim, πλέω (πλῠ-), sail, πνέω (πνῠ-), breathe, ῥέω (ῥῠ-), flow, χέω (χῠ-), pour. The poetic σεύω (σῠ-), urge, has this formation, with ευ retained.

Note. Verbs of the second class have the lengthened stem, as τηκ- in τήκω, νευ- in (νεϝω) νέω, in all tenses except in the second perfect, second aorist, and second passive tense systems; as φεύγω, φεύξομαι, ἔφυγον; τήκω, τήξω, τέτηκα, ἐτάκην; ῥέω (for ῥεϝω), ῥεύσομαι, ἐρρύην. Exceptions are the perfect middle of ἀλείφω, ἐρείκω, ἐρείπω, στείβω, τεύχω, the perfect active of ῥέω and τρίβω, and most tenses of χέω and σεύω. The lengthened stem of the second perfect (as in τέτηκα, λέλοιπα, &c.) is explained on the general principle, § 109, 3.


III. Third Class. (Verbs in πτω, or T Class.) Simple labial (π, β, φ) stems generally add τ, and thus form the present in πτω (§ 16, 1); as κόπτ-ω (κοπ-), cut, βλάπτ-ω (βλαβ-), hurt, ῥίπτ-ω (ῥιφ-), throw.

Here the exact form of the simple stem cannot be determined from the present. Thus, in the examples above given, the stem is to be found in the second aorists ἐκόπην, ἐβλάβην, and ἐρρίφην; and in καλύπτω (καλυβ-), cover, it is seen in καλύβ-η, hut.

The verbs of this class are ἅπτ-ω (ἁφ-), βάπτ-ω (βαφ-), βλάπτ-ω (βλαβ-), θάπτ-ω (ταφ-), θρύπτ-ω (τρυφ-), καλύπτ-ω (καλυβ-), κάμπτ-ω (καμπ-), κλέπτ-ω (κλεπ-), κόπτ-ω (κοπ-), κρύπτ-ω (κρυβ- or κρυφ-), κύπτ-ω (κυφ-), ῥάπτ-ω (ῥαφ-), ῥίπτ-ω (ῥιφ-), σκάπτ-ω (σκαφ-), σκέπτομαι (σκεπ-), σκήπτω (σκηπ-), σκώπτω (σκωπ-), τύπτω (τυπ-), with Homeric and poetic γνάμπτω (γναμπ-), ἐνίπτω (ἐνιπ-), and μάρπτω (μαρπ-). Τίκτω (τεκ-), probably for τεκτ-ω, belongs here.


IV. Fourth Class. (Iota Class.) This includes all verbs in which occur any of the euphonic changes arising from the addition of ι to the simple stem in forming the present stem (§ 16, 7). There are three divisions: —


1. (Verbs in σσω or ττω and ζω.) (a) Presents in σσω (ττω) generally come from palatal stems, κ, γ, or χ with ι becoming σσ (ττ). These have futures in ξω; as πράσσω (πρᾱγ-), do, fut. πράξω; μαλάσσω (μαλᾰκ-, seen in μαλακός), soften, fut. μαλάξω; ταράσσω (ταρᾰχ-, seen in ταραχή), confuse, fut. ταράξω. See § 16, 7 (a).

See also κηρύσσω (κηρῡκ-), φυλάσσω (φυλᾰκ-), πτήσσω (πτηκ-), φρίσσω (φρῑκ-), ἀλλάσσω (ἀλλᾰγ-), μάσσω (μᾰγ-), τάσσω (τᾰγ-), πλήσσω (πληγ-), ὀρύσσω (ὀρῠχ-), in the Catalogue, and many other verbs in σσω. [1]


[1]: The lists of verbs of the fourth class are not complete, while those of the other classes which are given contain all the verbs in common use.


Note. A few presents in σσω (ττω) come from lingual stems, and have futures in σω; as ἐρέσσω, row (from stem ἐρετ-, seen in ἐρέτης, rower), aor. ἤρεσα (§ 16, 2). So also ἁρμόττω (fut. ἁρμόσω), βλίττω (μελιτ-, § 14, N. 1), λίσσομαι (λιτ-), πάσσω, πλάσσω, πτίσσω, with ἀφάσσω (Hdt.), and poetic ἱμάσσω, κορύσσω (κορυθ-), νίσσομαι. One has a labial stem, πέσσω (πεπ-), cook, fut. πέψω.

(b) Presents in ζω may come from stems in δ and have futures in σω, or from stems in γ (or γγ) and have futures in ξω; as φράζω (φρᾰδ-), say, fut. φράσω, 2 aor. (Epic) πέφραδον; κομίζω (κομῐδ-, seen in κομιδή), carry, fut. κομίσω; ῥέζω (ῥεγ-), do, poetic, fut. ῥέξω; κλάζω (κλαγγ-, compare clango), scream, fut. κλάγξω. See § 16, 7 (b).

See also ἁρπάζω (ἁρπᾰδ-), θαυμάζω (θαυμᾰδ-), ἐρίζω (ἐρῐδ-), ἵζω (ἱδ-), νομίζω (νομῐδ-), ὄζω (ὀδ-), πελάζω (πελᾰδ-), σώζω (σωδ-), χάζω (χᾰδ-); κράζω (κρᾱγ-), σφάζω (σφᾰγ-), μύζω (μυγ-), grumble; σαλπίζω (σαλπιγγ-); with Ionic or poetic βαστάζω (βαστᾰδ-), κρίζω (κρῑγ-), τρίζω (τριγ-), πλάζω (πλαγγ-); &c.

Note 1. Some verbs in ζω have stems both in δ and γ; as παίζω (παιδ-, παιγ-), play, fut. παιξοῦμαι (§ 110, II. N. 2), aor. ἔπαισα. See also poetic forms of ἁρπάζω and νάσσω.

Note 2. Νίζω (νιβ-), wash, has a labial stem.


2. (Verbs with lengthened Liquid Stems.) (c) Presents in λλω are formed from simple stems in λ with added ι, λι becoming λλ; as στέλλω, send, for στελ-ι-ω; ἀγγέλλω, announce, for ἀγγελ-ι-ω; σφάλλω, trip up, for σφαλ-ι-ω. See § 16, 7 (c). See also βάλλω (βᾰλ-), θάλλω (θᾰλ-), ὀκέλλω (ὀκελ-), πάλλω (πᾰλ-), σκέλλω (σκελ-), τέλλω (τελ-), ἅλλομαι (ἁλ-), &c.

(d) Presents in αινω, εινω, αιρω, and ειρω are formed from simple stems in ᾰν, εν, ᾰρ, and ερ, with added ι, which, after metathesis, is contracted with the preceding vowel; as φαίνω, show, for φαν-ι-ω, fut. φᾰνῶ; κτείνω, kill, for κτεν-ι-ω; αἴρω, raise, for ἀρ-ι-ω; σπείρω, sow, for σπερ-ι-ω. See § 16, 7 (d).

Those in ῑνω, ῡνω, and ῡρω may be formed in the same way from simple stems in ῐν, ῠν, and ῠρ, ῐι becoming , and ῠι becoming ; as κρίνω, judge, for κρῐν-ι-ω, fut. κρῐνῶ; ἀμύνω, ward off, for ἀμῠν-ι-ω, fut. ἀμῠνῶ; σύρω, draw, for σῠρ-ι-ω.

See also εὐφραίνω (εὐφρᾰν-), κερδαίνω (κερδᾰν-), μιαίνω (μιᾰν-), ξηραίνω (ξηρᾰν-), σημαίνω (σημᾰν-), ὑφαίνω (ὑφᾰν-), τείνω (τεν-), poetic θείνω (θεν-), γείνομαι (γεν-), σαίρω (σᾰρ-), χαίρω (χᾰρ-), ἐγείρω (ἐγερ-), κείρω (κερ-), φθείρω (φθερ-), κλίνω (κλῐν-), πλύνω (πλῠν-), ὀξύνω (ὀξῠν-), αἰσχύνω (αἰσχῠν-), ὀλοφύρομαι (ὀλοφῠρ-), &c.

Note 1. Ὀφείλω (ὀφελ-), be obliged, owe, follows the analogy of stems in εν, to avoid confusion with ὀφέλλω (ὀφελ-), increase; but in Homer it has a regular form ὀφέλλω. Homer has εἴλομαι (ἑλ-), press.

Note 2. Verbs of this division (2) regularly have futures and aorists active and middle of the liquid form (§ 110, II. 2). For exceptions (in poetry), see § 110, II. N. 4.

Note 3. Many verbs with liquid stems do not belong to this class; as δέμω and δέρω in Class 1. For βαίνω, &c., see V. Note 1.


3. (Lengthened Vowel Stems.) (e) Here belong two verbs in αιω with stems in αυ, καίω, burn, and κλαίω, weep (Attic also κάω and κλάω). These stems καυ- and κλαυ- (seen in καύσω and κλαύσομαι) became καϝι- and κλαϝι-, whence και- and κλαι- (see II. 2).

Note. The Epic forms other present stems in this way; so δαίω (δα-), burn, μαίομαι (μα-), seek, ναίω (να-), inhabit, ὀπυίω (ὀπυ-), marry, and perhaps δαίομαι, divide.


V. Fifth class. (N Class.)


1. Some simple stems are strengthened in the present by adding ν; as φθάν-ω (φθᾰ-), anticipate; τίν-ω (τι-), pay; φθίν-ω (φθι-), waste; δάκν-ω (δᾰκ-), bite; κάμν-ω (κᾰμ-), be weary; τέμν-ω (τεμ-), cut.

So βαίνω (βᾰ-, βᾱν-, Note 1), πίνω (πι-, see also VIII.), δύνω (with δύω), Hom. θύνω (with θύω), rush; for ἐλαύνω (ἐλᾰ-), see N. 2.


2. Some consonant stems add αν; ἁμαρτάν-ω (ἁμαρτ-), err; αἰσθάν-ομαι (αἰσθ-), perceive; βλαστάν-ω (βλαστ-), sprout.

If the last vowel of the simple stem is short, ν (μ or γ before a labial or a palatal, § 16, 3) is inserted after the vowel; as λανθάν-ω (λᾰθ-, λανθ-), escape notice; λαμβάν-ω (λᾰβ-, λαμβ-), take; θιγγάνω (θιγ-, θιγγ-), touch.

So αὐξάν-ω (with αὔξ-ω), δαρθάν-ω (δαρθ-), ἀπ-εχθάνομαι (ἐχθ-), ἱζάν-ω (with ἵζ-ω), poetic κιχάν-ω (κῐχ-), οἰδάν-ω (with οἰδ-έω, Class 7), ὀλισθάν-ω (ὀλισθ-), ὀσφραίν-ομαι (ὀσφρ-, N. 1), ὀφλισκάν-ω (ὀφλ-, ὀφλισκ-, VI.), with poetic ἀλιταίν-ομαι (ἀλῐτ-, N. 1), ἀλφάν-ω (ἀλφ-), ἐριδαίνω (ἐρῐδ-). With inserted ν, γ, or μ, ἁνδάν-ω (ἁδ-), λαγχάν-ω (λᾰχ-), μανθάν-ω (μᾰθ-), πυνθάν-ομαι (πῠθ-), τυγχάν-ω (τῠχ-), with poetic χανδάνω (χᾰδ-), ἐρυγγάν-ω (ἐρῠγ-).


3. A few stems add νε: βυνέ-ω (with βύ-ω), stop up, ἱκνέ-ομαι (with ἵκ-ω), come, κυνέ-ω (κυ-), kiss; also ἀμπ-ισχνέ-ομαι, have on, and ὑπ-ισχνέ-ομαι, promise, from ἴσχ-ω (VIII.).


4. Some stems add νυ (after a vowel, ννυ): these form the second class (in νῡμι) of verbs in μι, as δείκνυ-μι (δεικ-), show, κεράννυ-μι (κερᾰ-), mix, and are enumerated in § 125, 5. Some of these have also the present in νυω (§ 122, N. 5).

Note 1. (a) Βαίνω (βᾰ-, βᾱν-), go, and ὀσφραίνομαι (ὀσφρ-, ὀσφρᾱν-), smell, not only add ν or αν, but lengthen αν to αιν on the principle of Class 4. They belong here, however, as they do not have the inflection of liquid verbs (IV. 2, Note 2). See also κερδαίνω, ῥαίνω, τετραίνω, with Hom. ἀλιταίνομαι (ἀλιτ-, ἀλιτᾰν-) and ἐριδαίνω.

(b) Some simple stems of this class lengthen a short vowel (on the principle of Class 2) in other tenses than the present; as λαμβάνω (λᾰβ-), fut. λήψομαι (ληβ-): so δάκνω, λαγχάνω, λανθάνω, τυγχάνω. See also ἐρυγγάνω, ἔρχομαι, ζεύγνυμι, and πυνθάνομαι.

Note 2. Ἐλαύνω (ἐλᾰ-), drive, is irregular in the present stem (probably for ἐλα-νυ-ω). Ὄλ-λυ-μι (ὀλ-), destroy, adds λυ instead of νυ (by assimilation) to the stem ὀλ-. Δαμνάω (δᾰμ-), subdue, adds να.


VI. Sixth class. (Verbs in σκω.)

These add σκ or (after a consonant) ισκ to the simple stem to form the stem of the present; as γηρά-σκω (γηρᾰ-), grow old, εὑρ-ίσκω (εὑρ-), find, ἀρέ-σκω (ἀρε-), please, στερ-ίσκω (στερ-), deprive.

These verbs are, further, ἁλ-ίσκομαι, ἀμβλ-ίσκω, ἀμπλακ-ίσκω (poetic), ἀναλ-ίσκω, ἀπαφ-ίσκω (poet.), ἀραρ-ίσκω (poet.), βά-σκω, βι-βρώ-σκω (βρο-), βιώ-σκομαι (βιο-), βλώ-σκω (μολ-, βλο-), γεγων-ίσκω, γι-γνώ-σκω (γνο-), δι-δρά-σκω (δρα-), ἐπαυρ-ίσκω (poet.), ἡβά-σκω, θνή-σκω (θαν-, θνα-), θρώ-σκω (θορ-, θρο-), ἱλά-σκομαι, μεθύ-σκω, μι-μνή-σκω (μνᾰ-), πι-πί-σκω (Ion. and Pind.), πι-πρά-σκω, τι-τρώ-σκω (τρο-), φά-σκω, χά-σκω. See also the verbs in N. 3, and ὀφλισκάνω.

Note 1. Many verbs of this class reduplicate the present stem (§ 109, 7, c) by prefixing its initial consonant with ι, as γι-γνώ-σκω (γνο-). Ἀρ-αρ-ίσκω (ἀρ-) has an Attic reduplication (§ 102, N. 1).

Note 2. Stems in ο lengthen ο to ω before σκω, as in γιγνώσκω; and some in lengthen to η, as in μιμνήσκω (μνᾰ-) and θνήσκω (θᾰν-, θνᾰ-, § 109, 7, a).

Note 3. Three verbs, ἀλύ-σκω (ἀλῠκ-), avoid, διδά-σκω (διδᾰχ-), teach, and λά-σκω (λᾰκ-), speak, omit κ or χ before σκω instead of inserting ι. So Homeric ἐΐσκω or ἴσκω (ἐϊκ- or ἰκ-).

Note 4. These verbs, from their ending σκω, are often called inceptive verbs, although few of them have any inceptive meaning.


VII. Seventh class. (E Class.)

A few simple stems add ε to form the present stem; as δοκέ-ω (δοκ-), seem, fut. δόξω; ὠθέ-ω (ὠθ-), push, fut. ὤσω (§ 16, 2); γαμέ-ω (γᾰμ-), marry, fut. (γαμέω) γαμῶ.

These verbs are, further, γεγωνέω, γηθέω, κτυπέω, κυρέω, μαρτυρέω (with μαρτύρομαι), ῥιπτέω (with ῥίπτω), φιλέω (v. Epic forms); and poetic δατέομαι, δουπέω, εἰλέω, ἐπαυρέω, κεντέω, πατέομαι, ῥιγέω, στυγέω, τορέω, and χραισμέω. See also πεκτέω (πεκ-, πεκτ-).

Most verbs in εω belong to the first class, as ποιέω (ποιε-).

Note. A few chiefly poetic verbs form present stems by adding α in the same way to the simple stem: see βρυχάομαι, γράω, δηριάω, μηκάομαι, μητιάω, μυκάομαι.


VIII. Eigth class. (Mixed Class.)

This includes the few irregular verbs in which any of the tense stems are so essentially different from others, or which are otherwise so peculiar in formation, that they cannot be brought under any of the preceding classes. They are the following:

αἱρέω (ἑλ-), take, fut. αἱρήσω, 2 aor. εἷλον.

ἀλέξω (ἀλεκ-), ward off, fut. ἀλεξήσω (§ 109, 8), ἀλεξήσομαι, and ἀλέξομαι; 2 aor. ἄλαλκον (Hom.) for ἀλ-αλεκ-ον (§ 100, 2, N. 4).

γίγνομαι (γεν- or γν-, γενε-, γᾰ-), become, for γι-γενομαι, fut. γενήσομαι, 2 aor. ἐγενόμην, 2 pf. γέγονα (§ 109, 3) with γεγάασι, &c. (§ 125, 4).

ἔθω (ϝεθ-, ϝωθ-, ὠθ-), be accustomed, 2 pf. εἴωθα, 2 plpf. εἰώθειν.

εἶδον (ϝιδ-, ἰδ-), saw, vidi, 2 aorist (no present act.); 2 pf. οἶδα, know (§ 127). Mid. εἴδομαι (poetic).

εἶπον (εἰπ-, ἐρ-, ῥε-), spoke, 2 aor. (no pres.); fut. (ἐρέω) ἐρῶ, pf. εἴ-ρη-κα. The stem εἰπ- is for ε-επ (orig. ϝε-ϝεπ-), and ἐρ- (ῥε-) is for ϝερ- (ϝρε-), seen in Lat. ver-bum (§ 109, 7, a). So ἐν-έπω.

ἔρχομαι (ἐλυθ- or ἐλθ-, ἐλευθ-), go, fut. ἐλεύσομαι (poet.), 2 aor. ἦλθον.

ἔρδω (ἐργ-), work, poetic, fut. ἔρξω; by metathesis ἐργ- becomes ῥεγ- in ῥέζω (Class 4). Originally the stem was ϝεργ-, as in ἔργον, work, German Werk.

ἐσθίω (ἐδ-, φᾰγ-), eat, fut. ἔδομαι, 2 aor. ἔφαγον.

ἕπω (Attic only in comp.), be about; mid. ἕπομαι, follow (σεπ- or σπ-, ἑπ-), fut. ἕψομαι, 2 aor. ἑσπόμην.

ἔχω (σεχ- or σχ-, σχε-), have, fut. ἕξω or σχήσω, 2 aor. ἔσχον (for ἐ-σεχ-ον). Also ἴσχω (for σι-σεχ-ω).

ὁράω (ὀπ-), see, fut. ὄψομαι, pf. ἑώρακα. See εἶδον.

πάσχω (πᾰθ-, πενθ-), suffer, fut. πείσομαι, 2 pf. πέπονθα, 2 aor. ἔπαθον.

πίνω (πι-, πο-), drink, fut. πίομαι, pf. πέπωκα, 2 aor. ἔπιον.

πίπτω (πετ-, πτο-), fall, for πι-πετ-ω, fut. πεσοῦμαι, pf. πέ-πτω-κα, 2 aor. ἔπεσον (Dor. ἔπετον).

τρέχω (δρᾰμ-, δραμε-), run, fut. δραμοῦμαι, pf. δεδράμηκα, 2 aor. ἔδραμον.

φέρω (οἰ-, ἐνεκ-, by redupl. and sync. ἐν-ενεκ, ἐνεγκ-), bear, fero; fut. οἴσω, aor. ἤνεγκα (§ 109, 7, b), pf. ἐν-ήνοχ-α (§ 109, 3, N. 2), ἐν-ήνεγ-μαι, aor. p. ἠνέχθην.

For full forms of these verbs, see the Catalogue.

Note. Occasional Homeric or poetic irregular forms appear even in some verbs of the first seven classes. See ἀκαχίζω and χανδάνω in the Catalogue.

§109

VERBAL STEMS. Modification of verbal stems.

Remark. This section includes all those modifications of the stem which follow recognized principles, or which occur in so many verbs that they deserve special notice. For example, the change from τιμᾰ- in τιμάω to τιμη- in τιμήσω, that from στεργ- in στέργω to ἐστοργ- in 2 pf. ἔστοργα, that from στελ- (stem of στέλλω) to στειλ- in ἔστειλα and ἐστᾰλ- in ἔσταλ-κα, and that from βᾰλ- (stem of βάλλω) to βεβλη- (for βεβλᾱ-) in βέβληκα, all follow definite principles; while that from πι- to πο- in πίνω and that from πᾰθ- to πενθ- in πάσχω (§ 108, VIII.) are mere irregularities.



1. Most stems ending in a short vowel lengthen this vowel in all tenses formed from these stems, except the present and imperfect. and ε become η, and ο becomes ω; but when follows ε, ι, or ρ, it becomes . E.g. Τιμάω (τιμᾰ-), honor, τιμή-σω, ἐτίμη-σα, τετίμη-κα, τετίμη-μαι, ἐτιμή-θην; φιλέω (φιλε-), love, φιλήσω, ἐφίλησα, πεφίληκα, πεφίλημαι, ἐφιλήθην; δηλόω (δηλο-), show, δηλώσω, &c.; so τίω, τίσω (); δακρύω, δακρύσω (). But ἐάω, ἐάσω (); ἰάομαι, ἰάσομαι (); δράω, δράσω (), ἔδρᾱσα, δέδρᾱκα.

This applies also to stems which become vowel stems by metathesis (§ 109, 7), as βάλλω (βᾰλ-, βλᾰ-), throw, pf. βέβλη-κα; κάμνω (κᾰμ-, κμᾰ-), labor, κέκμη-κα; or by adding ε (§ 109, 8), as βούλομαι (βουλ-, βουλε-), wish, βουλή-σομαι, βεβούλη-μαι, ἐβουλή-θην.

Note 1. Λύω, loose, generally has in Attic poetry in the present and imperfect (generally in Homer); in other tenses it has only in the future and aorist active and middle and in the future perfect. Ἀκροάομαι, hear, has ἀκροάσομαι, &c.; χράω, give oracles, lengthens to η; as χρήσω, &c. So τρήσω and ἔτρησα from stem τρα-; see τετραίνω, bore.

Note 2. Some vowel stems retain the short vowel, contrary to the general rule (§ 109, 1); as γελάω, laugh, γελάσομαι, ἐγέλασα; ἀρκέω, suffice, ἀρκέσω, ἤρκεσα; μάχομαι (μαχε-), fight, μαχέσομαι (Ion.), ἐμαχεσάμην.

(a) This occurs in the following verbs: (pure verbs) ἄγαμαι, αἰδέομαι, ἀκέομαι, ἀλέω, ἀνύω, ἀρκέω, ἀρόω, ἀρύω, γελάω, ἑλκύω (v. ἕλκω), ἐμέω, ἐράω, ζέω, θλάω, κλάω, break, ξέω, πτύω, σπάω, τελέω, τρέω, φλάω, χαλάω; and Epic ἀκηδέω, κοτέω, λοέω, νεικέω, and the stems (ἀᾱ-) and (ἀε-); - (other verbs with vowel stems) ἀρέσκω (ἀρε-), ἄχθομαι (ἀχθε-), ἐλαύνω (ἐλᾰ-), ἱλάσκομαι (ἱλα-), μεθύσκω (μεθῠ-); also all verbs in αννυμι and εννυμι, with stems in and ε (given in § 125, 5), with ὄλλυμι (ὀλε-) and ὄμνυμι (ὀμο-).

(b) The final vowel of the stem is variable in quantity in different tenses in the following verbs: (pure verbs) αἰνέω, αἱρέω, δέω, bind, δύω (v. δύνω), ἐρύω (Epic), θύω, sacrifice, καλέω, λύω, μύω, ποθέω, πονέω; - (other verbs) βαίνω (βᾰ-), εὑρίσκω (εὑρ-, εὑρε-), μάχομαι (μαχε-), πίνω (πι-, πο-), φθάνω (φθᾰ-), φθίνω (φθι-).


2. Many vowel stems have σ added, before all endings not beginning with σ, in the perfect middle and first passive tense systems. E.g. Τελέω, finish, τετέλε-σ-μαι, ἐτετελέσμην, ἐτελέσθην (§ 97, 4); γελάω, laugh, ἐγελά-σ-θην, γελασθῆναι; χράω, give oracles, χρήσω, κέχρη-σ-μαι, ἐχρήσθην.

This occurs in all the verbs included in 1, N. 2 (a), except ἀρόω, so far as they form these tenses, and in the following: ἀκούω, δράω, θραύω, κελεύω, κλείω (κλῄω), κνάω, κναίω, κρούω, κυλίω, λεύω, νέω, heap, ξύω, παίω, παλαίω, παύω, πρίω, σείω, τίνω, ὕω, χόω, χράω, χρίω, and poetic ῥαίω. Some, however, have forms both with and without σ. See the Catalogue.


3. In the second perfect the simple stem generally changes ε to ο, and lengthens other short vowels, to η (after ρ to ), ο to ω, to οι, and to ευ. E.g. Στέργ-ω, love, ἔστοργα; γίγνομαι (γεν-), become, γέγονα, ἐγεγόνειν; τίκτω (τεκ-), bring forth, τέτοκα; φαίνω (φᾰν-), πέφηνα; κράζω (κρᾱγ-), cry, κέκρᾱγα; τήκω (τᾰκ-), melt, τέτηκα, ἐτετήκειν; λείπω (λῐπ-), λέλοιπα, ἐλελοίπειν; φεύγω (φῠγ-), flee, πέφευγα, ἐπεφεύγειν. So ἐγείρω (ἐγερ-), rouse, ἐγρήγορα (§ 102, N. 1).

Note 1. Πράσσω (πρᾱγ-), do, has πέπρᾱγα (§ 110, IV. (a), N. 2). Ἔθω (ἐθ-), am accustomed, has irregularly εἴωθα (ὠθ- for ϝωθ-, § 104); and ῥήγνυμι (ῥᾰγ-) has ἔρρωγα (ῥωγ-), cf. τρώγω (τρᾱγ-), § 108, II.

Note 2. This change of ε to ο occurs even in some first perfects which aspirate the final consonant of the stem (§ 110, IV. b): these are κέκλοφα, from κλέπτω (κλᾰπ-), steal; εἴλοχα, from λέγ-ω, collect; πέπομφα from πέμπ-ω, send; τέτροφα (sometimes τέτραφα) from τρέπ-ω, turn; τέτροφα (perhaps second perfect), from τρέφ-ω, nourish. So ι becomes οι in δέδοικα (δι-), fear. In τίθημι (θε-), put, ε becomes ει in τέθεικα and τέθειμαι; compare πίνω (πι-), drink, πέπωκα and πέπομαι (πο-).


4. In simple liquid stems of one syllable, ε is generally changed to in the perfect active, perfect middle, and second passive systems. E.g. Στέλλω (στελ-), send, ἔσταλκα, ἔσταλμαι, ἐστάλην, στᾰλήσομαι; κείρω (κερ-), shear, κέκαρμαι, ἐκάρην (Ion.); σπείρω (σπερ-), sow, ἔσπαρμαι, ἐσπάρην. So in δέρω, κτείνω, μείρομαι, τέλλω, and φθείρω.

Note 1. The same change of ε to (after ρ) occurs in στρέφω, turn, ἔστραμμαι, ἐστράφην, στραφήσομαι (but 1 aor. ἐστρέφθην, rare); τρέπω, turn, τέτραφα (generally τέτροφα), τέτραμμαι, ἐτράπην (but ἐτρέφθην, Ion. ἐτράφθην); τρέφω, nourish, τέτροφα (late τέτραφα), τέθραμμαι, ἐτράφην (but ἐθρέφθην); also in the second aorist passive of κλέπτω, steal, πλέκω, weave, and τέρπω, delight, ἐκλάπην, ἐπλάκην, and (Epic) ἐτάρπην (1 aor. ἐκλέφθην, ἐπλέχθην, ἐτέρφθην, rarely Epic ἐτάρφθην). It occurs, further, in the second aorist (active or middle) of κτείνω, kill, τέμνω, cut, τρέπω, and τέρπω; viz., in ἔκτανον (poet.), ἔταμον, ἐταμόμην, ἔτραπον, ἐτραπόμην, τεταρπόμην (Hom.); also in several Homeric and poetic forms (see δέρκομαι, πέρθω, and πτήσσω).

Note 2. The first passive system rarely appears in verbs with monosyllabic liquid stems. Τείνω (τεν-), stretch, in which τεν- drops ν in this system (§ 109, 6), changes ε to in ἐτάθην and ἐκ-ταθήσομαι.


5. Liquid stems lengthen their last vowel in the aorist active and middle; as στέλλω (στελ-), ἔστειλα. See § 110, III. 2, and the examples.


6. Four verbs in νω drop ν of the stem in the perfect and first passive systems, and thus have vowel stems in these forms: - κρίνω (κρῐν-), separate, κέκρικα, κέκριμαι, ἐκρίθην; κλίνω (κλῐν-), incline, κέκλικα, κέκλιμαι, ἐκλίθην; πλύνω (πλῠν-), wash, πέπλυμαι, ἐπλύθην; τείνω (τεν-), stretch, τέτᾰκα (§ 109, 4), τέταμαι, ἐτάθην, ἐκ-ταθήσομαι. So κτείνω in some poetic forms: see also κερδαίνω.

Note. When final ν of a stem is not thus dropped, it becomes γ before κα (§ 16, 5), and generally becomes σ before μαι (§ 16, 6, N. 4); as φαίνω (φᾰν-), πέφαγκα, πέφασμαι, ἐφάνθην.


7. (a) The stem sometimes suffers metathesis (§ 14, 1): (1) in the present, as θνήσκω (θᾰν-, θνᾰ-), die (§ 108, VI. N. 2); (2) in other tenses, as βάλλω (βᾰλ-, βλᾰ-), throw, βέβληκα, βέβλημαι, ἐβλήθην; δέρκομαι (δερκ-), see (poetic), 2 aor. ἔδρακον (δρᾰκ-, § 109, 4, N. 1).

(b) Sometimes syncope (§ 14, 2): (1) in the present, as γίγνομαι (γεν-), become, for γι-γεν-ομαι; (2) in the second aorist, as ἐπτόμην for ἐ-πετ-ομην; (3) in the perfect, as πετάννυμι (πετᾰ-), expand, πέπταμαι for πε-πετα-μαι.

(c) Sometimes reduplication (besides the regular reduplication of the perfect stem): (1) in the present, especially in verbs of the sixth class and in verbs in μι (§ 121, 3), as γι-γνώσκω, know, γί-γνομαι, ἵ-στημι; (2) in the second aorist, as πείθω (πιθ-), persuade, πέ-πιθον (Ep.). Attic redupl. in ἄγω, lead, ἤγαγον (ἀγ-αγ-); see ἀραρίσκω. § 110, V. N. 2; § 100, Notes 3 and 4.


8. Ε is sometimes added to the present stem, sometimes to the simple stem, making a new stem in ε. From this some verbs form special tenses; and others form all their tenses except the present, imperfect, second perfect, and second aorists (§ 90, N. 1). E.g. Βούλομαι (βουλ-), wish, βουλήσομαι (βουλε-, § 109, 1), &c.; αἰσθάνομαι (αἰσθ-), perceive, αἰσθήσομαι (αἰσθε-), ᾔσθημαι; μένω (μεν-), remain, μεμένηκα (μενε-); μάχομαι (μαχ-), fight, fut. (μαχέ-ομαι) μαχοῦμαι, ἐμαχεσάμην, μεμάχημαι; χαίρω (χᾰρ-), rejoice, χαιρήσω (χαιρε-), κεχάρηκα (χαρε-).

(a) The following have the stem in ε, in all tenses except those mentioned; (1) formed from the present stem: ἀλέξω, ἄλθομαι (Ion.), ἄχθομαι, βούλομαι, βόσκω, δέω, want, ἐθέλω and θέλω, ἔρομαι and εἴρομαι (Ion.), ἔρρω, εὕδω, ἕψω, κέλομαι (poet.), μάχομαι, μέδομαι (poet.), μέλλω, μέλω, μύζω, suck, οἴομαι, οἴχομαι, ὀφείλω, πέτομαι; (2) formed from the simple stem: αἰσθάνομαι (αἰσθ-), ἁμαρτάνω (ἁμαρτ-), ἁνδάνω (ἁδ-), ἀπ-εχθάνομαι (ἐχθ-), αὐξάνω (αὐξ-), βλαστάνω (βλαστ-), εὑρίσκω (εὑρ-), κιχάνω (κιχ-), λάσκω (λακ-), μανθάνω (μαθ-), ὀλισθάνω (ὀλισθ-), ὄλλυμι (ὀλ-), ὀφλισκάνω (ὀφλ-); see poetic ἀμπλακίσκω and ἀπαφίσκω, and the stem (δα-).

(b) The following have the stem in ε in special tenses; (1) formed from the present stem: διδάσκω, καθίζω, κλαίω, μένω, νέμω, παίω, πέτομαι, τύπτω; (2) formed from the simple stem: δαρθάνω (δαρθ-), κήδω (κᾱδ-), ὀσφραίνομαι (ὀσφρ-), πείθω (πιθ-), ῥέω (ῥυ-), στείβω (στιβ-), τυγχάνω (τυχ-), χάζω (χαδ-); see also γίγνομαι, ἔχω, τρέχω. Χαίρω (χᾰρ-) forms both χαιρε- and χαρε-.

Note. In ὄμνυμι, swear, the stem ὀμ- is enlarged to ὀμο- in some tenses, as in ὤμο-σα; in ἁλίσκομαι, be captured, ἁλ- is enlarged to ἁλο-, as in ἁλώσομαι. So τρύχω, exhaust, τρυχώσω. So probably οἴχομαι, be gone, has stem οἰχο- for οἰχε- in the perfect οἴχω-κα (cf. Ion. οἴχη-μαι).

§110-111

VERBAL STENS. Formation of Tense Stems.

Remark. This section explains the formation of the seven tense stems enumerated in § 92, 4. They are generally formed from the simple stem of the verb (when this is distinct from the present stem). But verbs of the second class commonly have the lengthened stem (§ 108, II. Note) in all tenses except in the second perfect, second aorist, and second passive tense systems. The verbs enumerated in § 109, 8 form some tenses from stems lengthened by adding ε. The stem may be modified in different tenses as has been explained in § 109.


§ 110.

I. (Present Stem.)

The present stem is the stem of the present and imperfect in all the voices. The principles on which it is derived from the simple stem, when they are not identical, are explained in § 108.

II. (Future Stem.)


1. Vowel and mute stems add σ to form the stem of the future active and middle. These vowel stems lengthen a short vowel (§ 109, 1); π, β, φ with σ become ψ; κ, γ, χ with σ become ξ; τ, δ, θ before σ are dropped (§ 16, 2). E.g.

Τιμάω, honor, τιμήσω; δράω, do, δράσω; κόπτω (κοπ-), cut, κόψω; βλάπτω (βλᾰβ-), hurt, βλάψω, βλάψομαι; γράφω, write, γράψω, γράψομαι; πλέκω, twist, πλέξω; πράσσω (πρᾱγ-), do, πράξω, πράξομαι; ταράσσω (ταρᾰχ-), confuse, ταράξω, ταράξομαι; φράζω (φραδ-), tell, φράσω (for φραδ-σω); πείθω, persuade, πείσω (for πειθ-σω). So σπένδω, pour, σπείσω (for σπενδ-σω, § 16, 2 and 6, N. 1); τρέφω, nourish, θρέψω, θρέψομαι (§ 17, 2, Note).


2. Liquid stems add ε (in place of σ) to form the future stem; this ε is contracted with ω and ομαι to and οῦμαι. E.g.

Φαίνω (φᾰν-), show, fut. (φανέ-ω) φανῶ, (φανέ-ομαι) φανοῦμαι; στέλλω (στελ-), send, (στελέ-ω) στελῶ, (στελέ-ομαι) στελοῦμαι; νέμω, divide, (νεμέ-ω) νεμῶ; κρίνω (κρῑν-), judge, (κρινέ-ω) κρινῶ.

Note 1. (Attic Future.)

(a) The futures of καλέω, call, and τελέω, finish, καλέσω and τελέσω (§ 109, 1, N. 2), drop σ of the future stem, and contract καλε- and τελε- with ω and ομαι, making καλῶ, καλοῦμαι, τελῶ and (poetic) τελοῦμαι. These futures have the same forms as the presents. So ὄλλυμι (ὀλ-, ὀλε-), destroy, has fut. ὀλέσω (Hom.), ὀλέω (Hdt.), ὀλῶ (Attic).

So μαχέσομαι, Homeric future of μάχομαι (μαχε-), fight, becomes μαχοῦμαι in Attic. Καθέζομαι (ἑδ-), sit, has καθεδοῦμαι.

(b) In like manner, futures in άσω from verbs in αννυμι (stems in ), some in εσω from verbs in εννυμι (stems in ε), and some in άσω from verbs in άζω (stems in ᾰδ), drop σ and contract αω and εω to . Thus σκεδάννυμι (σκεδᾰ-), scatter, σκεδάσω, (σκεδάω) σκεδῶ; στορέννυμι (στορε-), spread, στορέσω, (στορέω) στορῶ; βιβάζω (βιβᾰδ-), cause to go, βιβάσω, (βιβάω) βιβῶ. So ἐλαύνω (ἐλᾰ-), drive (§ 108, V. N. 2), ἐλάσω, (ἐλάω) ἐλῶ. For fut. ἐλόω, κρεμόω, &c., in Homer, see § 120, 1, (b).

(c) Futures in ίσω and ίσομαι from verbs in ίζω (ῐδ-) of more than two syllables regularly drop σ and insert ε; then ιεω and ιεομαι are contracted to ιῶ and ιοῦμαι; as κομίζω, carry, κομίσω, (κομιέω) κομιῶ, κομίσομαι, (κομιέομαι) κομιοῦμαι, inflected like φιλῶ, φιλοῦμαι (§ 98). See § 120, 2, (a).

(d) Though these forms of future are called Attic, because the Attic dialect seldom uses any others in these tenses, they are yet found in other dialects and even in Homer, while the Attic occasionally uses the full forms in σω.

Note 2. (Doric Future.) A few verbs sometimes add ε to σ in the stem of the future middle, and contract σέομαι to σοῦμαι. These are πλέω, sail, πλευσοῦμαι (§ 108, II. 2); πνέω, breathe, πνευσοῦμαι; νέω, swim, νευσοῦμαι; κλαίω, weep, κλαυσοῦμαι (§ 108, IV. 3); φεύγω, flee, φευξοῦμαι; πίπτω, fall, πεσοῦμαι. See also παίζω and πυνθάνομαι.

The Doric forms middle futures like these, and also active futures in σέω contracted σῶ (§ 119, 6). These few are used in Attic with the regular futures πλεύσομαι, πνεύσομαι, κλαύσομαι, φεύξομαι (but never πέσομαι).

Note 3. A few irregular futures drop σ of the stem, which thus has the appearance of a present stem. Such are χέω and χέομαι, fut. of χέω, pour; ἔδομαι, from ἐσθίω (ἐδ-), eat; πίομαι, from πίνω (πι-), drink.

Note 4. A few liquid stems add σ like mute stems; κέλλω (κελ-), land, κέλσω; κύρω, meet, κύρσω; θέρομαι, be warmed, θέρσομαι; all poetic: so φθείρω (φθερ-), destroy, Ep. fut. φθέρσω.

III. (First Aorist Stem.)


1. Vowel and mute stems add σ to form the stem of the first aorist active and middle. The lengthening of a final vowel of the stem and the euphonic changes of mutes before σ are the same as in the future stem. E.g.

Τιμάω, ἐτίμησα, ἐτιμησάμην; δράω, ἔδρᾱσα; κόπτω, ἔκοψα, ἐκοψάμην; βλάπτω, ἔβλαψα; γράφω, ἔγραψα, ἐγραψάμην; πλέκω, ἔπλεξα, ἐπλεξάμην; πράσσω, ἔπραξα, ἐπραξάμην; ταράσσω, ἐτάραξα; φράζω, ἔφρασα (for ἐφραδ-σα); πείθω, ἔπεισα (§ 108, II. Note); σπένδω, ἔσπεισα (for ἐσπενδ-σα); τρέφω, ἔθρεψα, ἐθρεψάμην (§ 17, 2, Note); τήκω, melt, ἔτηξα (§ 108, II. Note); πλέω, sail, ἔπλευσα (§ 108, II. 2).

Note 1. Three verbs in μι, δίδωμι (δο-), give, ἵημι (ἑ-), send, and τίθημι (θε-), put, form the aorist stem by adding κ instead of σ, giving ἔδωκα, ἧκα, ἔθηκα. These forms are seldom used except in the indicative active, and are most common in the singular, where the second aorists ἔδων, ἧν, ἔθην, are not in use. (See § 122, N. 1.) Even ἡκάμην and ἐθηκάμην occur, the latter not in Attic Greek.

Note 2. Χέω, pour, has aorists ἔχεα (Hom. ἔχευα) and ἐχεάμην, corresponding to the futures χέω and χέομαι (II. N. 3). Εἶπον, said, has also first aorist εἶπα; and φέρω, bear, has ἤνεγκ-α (from stem ἐνεγκ-).

For Homeric aorists like ἐβήσετο, ἐδύσετο, ἷξον, &c., see § 119, 8.


2. Liquid stems form the first aorist stem by lengthening their last vowel, to η (after ι or ρ to ) and ε to ει. E.g.

Φαίνω (φᾰν-), ἔφην-α, ἐφηνάμην (rare); στέλλω (στελ-), ἔστειλ-α, ἐστειλάμην; ἀγγέλλω (ἀγγελ-), announce, ἤγγειλα, ἠγγειλάμην; περαίνω (περᾰν-), finish, ἐπέρᾱνα; μαίνω (μᾰν-), stain, ἐμίᾱνα; νέμω, divide, ἔνειμα, ἐνειμάμην; κρίνω, judge, ἔκρῑνα; ἀμύνω, keep off, ἤμῡνα, ἠμυνάμην; φθείρω (φθερ-), destroy, ἔφθειρα. Compare the futures in II. 2.

Note 1. A few liquid stems lengthen ᾰν to ᾱν irregularly; as κερδαίνω, gain, ἐκέρδᾱνα. A few lengthen ρᾰν to ρην; as τετραίνω, bore, ἐτέτρηνα.

Note 2. Αἴρω (ἀρ-), raise, and ἅλλομαι (ἁλ-), leap, have ἦρα, ἠράμην, ἡλάμην (augmented); but in the other moods, as ἆρον, ἄρας, ἀράμενος, ἁλάμενος (all with ).

IV. (Perfect Stem.)

(a) Perfect Middle Stem.

The stem of the perfect and pluperfect middle and passive consists of the simple stem (in verbs of the second class, of the present stem) with the required reduplication or augment prefixed; as λύ-ω, λέλυμαι, ἐλελύμην; λείπ-ω, λελειπ- (§ 108, II. Note), λέλειμμαι, ἐλελείμμην.

The stem may be modified (§ 109) as follows: –


1. A short final vowel is regularly lengthened; as φιλέ-ω, πεφίλημαι, ἐπεφιλήμην; δράω, δέδρᾱμαι. (§ 109, 1.)
2. Some vowel stems add σ; τελέ-ω, τετέλεσ-μαι. (§ 109, 2.)
3. Most monosyllabic liquid stems and some others change ε to ; as στέλλω (στελ-), ἔσταλμαι, ἐστάλμην. (§ 109, 4.)
4. A few stems in ν drop ν, and others change ν to σ. (§ 109, 6.)
5. Metathesis sometimes occurs; as βάλλω (βᾰλ-), throw, βέβλη-μαι (βλᾱ-). (§ 109, 7.)

For the euphonic changes made in consonant stems on adding the endings, see § 97, N. 2.

(b) Perfect Active Stem.

The stem of the first perfect and pluperfect active is formed by adding κ to the reduplicated or augmented simple or present stem (§ 108, II. Note), except when this ends in a labial or palatal mute. Stems ending in π or β, κ or γ, aspirate these letters, making them φ or χ, while final φ and χ remain unchanged. E.g.

Λύω, λελυκ-, λέλυκα, ἐλελύκειν; νέω (νυ-, νεϝ-), swim, νένευκα; πείθω, persuade, πέπεικα (for πε-πειθ-κα). Κόπτω (κοπ-), cut, κέκοφα; βλάπτω (βλᾰβ-), hurt, βέβλαφα; πτήσσω (πτηκ-), cower, ἔπτηχα; πράσσω (πρᾱγ-), do, πέπρᾱχα, ἐπεπρᾱχειν; γράφω, write, γέγραφα, ἐγεγράφειν; ὀρύσσω (ὀρῠχ-), dig, ὀρώρυχα. So κομίζω (κομιδ-), carry, κεκόμικα (§ 16, 1, N. 2).

This stem may be modified (§ 109) in various ways: –


1. A short final vowel is regularly lengthened; as φιλέω, πεφίληκα. (§ 109, 1.)
2. Most monosyllabic liquid stems and some others change ε to ; as στέλλω (στελ-), ἔσταλκα, ἐστάλκειν. (§ 109, 4.)
3. A few labial and palatal stems change ε to ο, as in the second perfect. (§ 109, 3, N. 2.)
4. A few stems in ν drop ν, and become vowel stems. (§ 109, 6.)
5. Metathesis sometimes occurs; as βάλλω (βᾰλ-, βλᾰ-), βέβληκα. (§ 109, 7, a.)

Note. The only form of first perfect found in Homer is that in κα of verbs having vowel stems. The perfect in κα of liquid and lingual stems, and the aspirated perfects of labial and palatal stems, belong to a later development of the language.

(c) Future Perfect Stem. The stem of the future perfect is formed by adding σ to the stem of the perfect middle, as λελυ-, λελυσ-, λελύσομαι; γραφ-, γεγραφ-, γεγραψ-, γεγράψομαι; λειπ-, λελειπ-, λελειψ-, λελείψομαι; πράσσω (πρᾱγ-), πεπρᾱγ-, πεπρᾱξ-, πεπράξομαι.

Note 1. The future perfect is found in only a small number of verbs. Its stem, when a consonant precedes σ, is subject to all the euphonic changes noticed in the future stem (§ 110, II. 1).

Note 2. Two verbs have a special form in Attic Greek for the future perfect active; θνήσκω, die, has τεθνήξω, shall be dead, formed from τεθνηκ-, the stem of perf. τέθνηκα, am dead; and ἵστημι, set, has ἑστήξω, shall stand, from ἑστηκ-, stem of perf. ἕστηκα, stand. In Homer, we have also κεχαρήσω and κεχαρήσομαι, from χαίρω (χᾰρ-), rejoice; and κεκαδήσω, (irreg.) from χάζω (χᾰδ-), yield.

(d) Second Perfect Stem. The stem of the second perfect and pluperfect is always the simple stem with the reduplication (or augment) prefixed. The stem is generally modified by changing ε to ο, or by lengthening other short vowels. See § 109, 3, with the examples.

For second perfects and pluperfects of the μι-form, see § 124.

Note 1. Vowel stems do not form second perfects; ἀκού-ω, hear, is only an apparent exception, as ἀκήκοα is for ἀκ-ηκοϝ-α with ϝ omitted (§ 102).

Note 2. Few verbs have both a first and a second perfect. In πράσσω (πρᾱγ-), do, we have πέπρᾱχα, have done, and πέπρᾱγα, fare (well or ill); so ἀν-οίγω, open, ἀν-έῳχα (trans.), ἀν-έῳγα (intrans.).

Note 3. The second perfect stem appears especially in the Homeric dialect, which has many second perfects not found in Attic; as προ-βέβουλα from βούλομαι, wish, μέμηλα from μέλω, concern. Homer has many varieties of the 2 perfect participle of the μι-form; in ἀώς, gen. ἀότος (sometimes αὖτος), fem. αὐῖα, as γεγαώς, βεβαώς; in ηώς, gen. ηότος or ηῶτος, fem. ηυῖα, as τεθηώς, τεθνηῶτος or -ότος, τεθνηυῖα. Herodotus has ἐώς, ἐῶσα, ἐός, gen. ἐῶτος, ἐώσης, as ἑστεώς, &c., some forms of which (e.g. ἑστεῶτα, τεθνεῶτι) occur in Homer. The Attic contracts αώς, αῶσα, αός, to ώς, ῶσα, ός (§ 69, N.), gen. ῶτος, ώσης, &c., but leaves τεθνεώς (of θνήσκω) uncontracted.

Note 4. The stem of the feminine of the second perfect participle in Homer often has a short vowel when the other genders have a long one; as ἀρηρώς, ἀραρυῖα; τεθηλώς, τεθαλυῖα.

V. (Second Aorist Stem.)

The stem of the second aorist active and middle is the simple stem of the verb, to which the second aorist stands in the same relation in which the imperfect stands to the present stem; as λείπω (λῐπ-), 2 aor. ἔλιπον, ἐλιπόμην (impf. ἔλειπον, ἐλειπόμην); λαμβάνω (λᾰβ-), take, 2 aor. ἔλαβον, ἐλαβόμην.

Note 1. A few second aorist stems change ε to ; as τέμνω (τεμ-), cut, ἔταμον, ἐταμόμην. See § 109, 4, N. 1.

Note 2. A few stems are syncopated (§ 109, 7); as πέτομαι (πετ-), fly, 2 aor. m. ἐπτόμην for ἐπετ-ομην; ἐγείρω (ἐγερ-), rouse, ἠγρόμην for ἠγερ-ομην; ἦλθον, went, from stem ἐλυθ-, for ἤλυθον (Hom.); ἕπομαι (σεπ-), follow, ἑσπόμην, for ἐσεπ-ομην; ἔχω (σεχ-), have, ἔσχον for ἐ-σεχ-ον. So the Homeric ἐκεκλόμην, for ἐ-κε-κελ-ομην, or κεκλόμην, from κέλομαι, command; ἤλαλκον, for ἀλ-αλεκ-ον, from ἀλέξω (ἀλεκ-), ward off: for these and other reduplicated second aorists, see § 100, Notes 3 and 4.

Note 3. For second aorists of the μι-form, like ἔβην, see § 125, 3.

VI. (First Passive Stem.)

The stem of the first aorist passive is formed by adding θε to the stem as it appears (omitting the reduplication or augment) in the perfect middle or passive, with all its modifications (IV. a): in the indicative, imperative, and infinitive, θε becomes θη. In the future passive σ is added to θη, making the stem in θησ. E.g.

Λύω, λέλυ-μαι, ἐλύθην (λυθη-), (λυθέ-ω) λυθῶ, λυθείην, λυθῆναι, λυθείς (λυθε-ντ-), λυθήσ-ομαι; πράσσω (πρᾱγ-), πέπρᾱγ-μαι, ἐπράχ-θην (§ 16, 1), πραχθήσ-ομαι; πείθω, persuade, πέπεισ-μαι (§ 16, 3; § 108, II. Note), ἐπείσθην, πεισθήσομαι; φιλέω, πε-φίλη-μαι (§ 109, 1), ἐφιλήθην; τιμάω, τε-τίμη-μαι, ἐτιμήθην, τιμηθήσομαι; τελέω, τετέλε-σ-μαι (§ 109, 2), ἐτελέσ-θην, τελεσθήσομαι; κλίνω, κέκλι-μαι (§ 109, 6), ἐκλί-θην, κλι-θήσομαι; τείνω (τεν-), τέτα-μαι (§ 109, 4 and 6), ἐτάθην, ἐκ-ταθήσομαι.

Note 1. Τρέπω has τέτραμμαι, ἐτρέφθην (Ion. ἐτράφθην); τρέφω has τέθραμμαι, ἐθρέφθην; and στρέφω has ἔστραμμαι, with (rare) ἐστρέφθην (Ion. and Dor. ἐστράφθην). Φαίνω has πέφασμαι (§ 16, 6, N. 4), but ἐφάνθην.

Note 2. Ν is added in Homer to some vowel stems before θ of the aorist passive; as ἱδρύω, erect, ἵδρυμαι, ἱδρύν-θην (Attic ἱδρύθην). So Hom. ἐκλίνθην and ἐκρίνθην (§ 109, 6).

Note 3. For ἐτέθην (for ἐθε-θην), from τίθημι (θε-), and ἐτύθην (for ἐθυ-θην) from θύω, sacrifice, see § 17, 2, Note. We have, however, ἐθρέφθην and τεθράφ-θαι from τρέφω, nourish, perhaps to distinguish these forms from ἐτρέφθην and τετράφθαι from τρέπω, turn.

VII. (Second Passive Stem.)

The stem of the second aorist passive is formed by adding ε to the simple stem: in the indicative, imperative, and infinitive, ε becomes η. In the second future passive σ is added to this η, making the stem in ησ. The only regular modification of the stem is the change of ε to explained in § 109, 4. E.g.

Βλάπτω (βλᾰβ-), hurt, ἐβλάβην, βλαβήσομαι; γράφω, write, ἐγράφην, γραφήσομαι; ῥίπτω (ῥῐφ-), throw, ἐρρίφην; φαίνω (φᾰν-), show, ἐφάνην, φανήσομαι; στρέφω, turn, ἐστράφην, στραφήσομαι; τέρπω, amuse, ἐτάρπην (Hom.) with subj., by metathesis, τραπείω. See the examples in § 109, 4, and N. 1.

Note 1. The simple stem of verbs of the second class, which seldom appears in other tenses (§ 108, II. Note), is seen in the second passive system; as σήπω (σᾰπ-), corrupt, ἐσάπην, σαπήσομαι; τήκω (τᾰκ-), melt, ἐτάκην; ῥέω (ῥῠ-), flow, ἐρρύην, ῥυήσομαι; ἐρείπω (ἐρῐπ-), throw down, ἠρίπην (poetic), but 1 aor. ἠρείφθην (ἐρειπ-).

Note 2. Πλήσσω (πληγ-), strike, has 2 aor. pass. ἐπλήγην, but in composition ἐξ-επλάγην and κατ-επλάγην (as if from a stem πλᾰγ-).

Note 3. The only verb which has both the 2 aor. passive and the 2 aor. active is τρέπω, turn, which has all the six aorists.


§ 111.

The following table shows the seven tense stems (so far as they exist) of λύω, λείπω (λῐπ-), πράσσω (πρᾱγ-), φαίνω (φᾰν-), and στέλλω (στελ-).

Tense stemFormationλύωλείπωπράσσωφαίνωστέλλω
I. Present (all voices)λυ-λειπ-πρασσ-φαιν-στελλ-
II. Future active and middleλυσ-λειψ-πραξ-φανε-στελε-
III. Aorist active and middleλυσ-πραξ-φην-στειλ-
IV. Perfect(a) Middleλελυ-λελειπ-πεπρᾱγ-πεφαν-ἐσταλ-
IV. Perfect(b) Activeλελυκ-πεπρᾱχ-πεφαγκ-ἐσταλκ-
IV. Perfect(c) Future passiveλελυσ-λελειψ-πεπρᾱξ-
IV. Perfect(d) Second perfectλελοιπ-πεπρᾱγ-πεφην-
V. Second aorist active and middleλῐπ-
VI. First passive(a) First aoristλυθε(η)-λειφθε(η)-πραχθε(η)-φανθε(η)-
VI. First passive(b) First futureλυθησ-λειφθησ-πραχθησ-
VII. Second passive(a) Second aoristφᾰνε(η)-στᾰλε(η)-
VII. Second passive(b) Second futureφᾰνησ-στᾰλησ-
§112

PERSONAL ENDINGS


1. The endings which are peculiar to the different persons of the verb are called personal endings. These have one form for the active voice, and another for the passive and middle; but the aorist passive has the endings of the active voice.


2. The personal endings, which are most distinctly preserved in verbs in μι and other primitive forms, are as follows: -

Number and personActive: primary tensesActive: secondary tensesPassive and middle: primary tensesPassive and middle: secondary tenses
Singular 1μι or -ν or -μαιμην
Singular 2σι (ς)ςσαισο
Singular 3σι (τι) or --ταιτο
Dual 2τοντονσθονσθον
Dual 3τοντηνσθονσθην
Plural 1μεν (μες)μεν (μες)μεθαμεθα
Plural 2τετεσθεσθε
Plural 3νσι (ντι)ν or σαννταιντο

Note. The active endings μι and σι in the first and third person singular are not used in the indicative except in verbs in μι, verbs in ω having no endings in these persons. The original ending σι of the second person singular is found only in the Epic ἐσ-σί, thou art, in all other verbs being reduced to ς. In the third person singular τι is Doric, as τίθη-τι for τίθησι; and it is preserved in Attic in ἐσ-τί, he is. In the first person plural μες is Doric. In the third person plural νσι always drops ν and lengthens the preceding vowel, as in λύουσι for λυο-νσι (§ 16, 6); the original form ντι is Doric, as φέροντι for φέρουσι (Lat. ferunt). The perfect indicative active of all verbs, and the present indicative active of verbs in μι (§ 121, 2, a), have ᾱσι (for ανσι) in the third person plural. [1]


[1]: Among the original active endings, inherited from the parent language of the Greek, Latin, Sanskrit, German, &c., were μι, σι, τι, in the singular, and ντι in the third person plural. In the past tenses, these were first shortened by dropping ι, and became μ, ς, τ, and ντ, in which form they appear in Latin, as in era-m, era-s, era-t, era-nt. In μι, σι, and τι, and in the original μες in the first person plural (compare Latin mus), we see the roots of the personal pronouns, I, thou, he, and we (compare μέ, σέ, τόν, and the Epic ἄμ-μες), which were originally appended to the verbal root, instead of being prefixed as in English. These forms therefore really include the pronoun, which is commonly said to be omitted. A comparison of the various forms of the present indicative of the primitive verb be (whose original stem is as-, in Greek and Latin es-), as it appears in Sanskrit, the older Greek, Latin, Old Slavic, and Lithuanian (the most primitive modern language, still spoken on the Baltic), will illustrate the Greek verbal endings.



3. In the perfect and pluperfect passive and middle, and in both aorists passive (except in the subjunctive and optative), the endings are added directly to the tense stem; as

λέλυ-μαι, λέλυ-σαι, λέλυ-ται, λέλυ-νται, ἐ-λελύ-μην; ἐ-λύθη-ν, ἐ-λύθη-ς, ἐ-λύθη, ἐ-λύθη-σαν (§ 111).

So also in verbs in μι, in most of the forms which are peculiar to that conjugation (§ 121, 1); as φα-μέν, φα-τέ, from φημί (φᾰ-), say; ἵστα-μαι, ἵστα-σαι, ἵστα-ται, ἵστα-νται, from ἵστημι, set (§ 123).


4. In other parts of the verb the tense stem appears in a prolonged form, consisting of the fixed portion and a variable vowel (sometimes a diphthong), to which the endings are affixed. This formation will be seen by a comparison of the present indicative middle of τίθημι (τιθε-) with that of φιλέω (φιλε-) in its uncontracted (Ionic) form: -

τίθημιφιλέωτίθημιφιλέω
τίθε-μαιφιλέ-ο-μαιτιθέ-μεθαφιλε-ό-μεθα
τίθε-σαιφιλέ-ε-(σ)αιτίθε-σθεφιλέ-ε-σθε
τίθε-ταιφιλέ-ε-ταιτίθε-νταιφιλέ-ο-νται
τίθε-σθονφιλέ-ε-σθον(For τίθημι see § 123.)

Compare also the perfect λέ-λυ-μαι, λέ-λυ-ται, λέ-λυ-σθε, λέ-λυ-νται (§ 112, 3), with the present λύ-ο-μαι, λύ-ε-ται, λύ-ε-σθε, λύ-ο-νται.

Number and personSanskritGreekLatinOld SlavicLithuanian
Singular 1as-miἐμ-μί (for ἐσ-μι)[e]s-umyes-m’es-mi
Singular 2asiἐσ-σίesyesiesi
Singular 3as-tiἐσ-τίes-tyes-t’es-ti
Plural 1s-masἐσ-μέν (Dor. εἰμές)[e]s-u-musyes-mies-me
Plural 2s-thaἐσ-τέes-tisyes-tees-te
Plural 3as-antiἐν-τί (Doric)[e]s-u-nts-u-t’es-ti

The vowel which thus completes the stem is called a connecting vowel; [1] and it appears (sometimes with ο and ε lengthened to ω and ει) even when the ending is dropped (§ 113, 1), as in λέγω (for λεγο-μι) and λέγει (for λεγε-τι).


[1]: The name "connecting vowel" belongs to the doctrine formerly held, by which this vowel was made a third element in the formation of the verb, distinct from both the stem and the ending. The more correct view considers it a part of the tense stem, which thus consists of the fixed portion (e.g. λεγ-, λυ-, λειπ-, in the present) and a vowel sound which varies according to the following letter (e.g. λεγο- or λεγε-). In the original language it was uniformly a, as it appears in the Sanskrit bhara-mi (below). In an elementary work, it is more convenient to treat this variable formative suffix separately, so that the tense stems are given (as in § 95) in their shorter forms (λυ-, λειπ-, &c.).

§113

INDICATIVE


1. The original connecting vowel in the indicative of verbs in ω (except in the aorist active and middle, and the perfect and pluperfect active) was ο before μ or ν, and elsewhere ε. In the singular of the present and future active, when μι and τι were dropped and σι became ς (§ 112, 2, Note), the primitive ο and ε were lengthened into ω and ει. [2]


[2]: The supposed original forms of the present indicative of λέγω and the Latin lego are thus given by G. Curtius (Griechisches Verbum, I. p. 200). The actual forms of the Sanskrit present bharami, I bear (= φέρω, fero), are given on the right, and the Attic forms of λέγω on the left.


Attic GreekPrimitive GreekPrimitive LatinSanskrit
λέγωλεγο-μιlego-m(i)bhara-mi
λέγειςλεγε-σιlege-s(i)bhara-si
λέγειλεγε-τιlege-t(i)bhara-ti
λέγο-μενλεγο-μεςlego-masbhara-mas
λέγε-τελεγε-τεlege-tesbhara-tha
λέγουσι (for λεγο-νσι, § 16, 6)λεγο-ντιlego-nt(i)bhara-nti

From λεγο-μι comes λέγω, from λεγε-σι comes λέγεις, and from λεγε-τι comes λέγει for λέγετι (§ 7).

The connecting vowel is α in all persons of the first aorist middle; also in the perfect and first aorist active, except in the third person singular where it is ε. In the pluperfect active it is ει; but in the third person plural it is ε (rarely ει).


2. The personal endings of the indicative, as they appear in verbs in ω united with the connecting vowels, are as follows: -

I. Active

Number and personPresent and futurePerfectAoristImperfect and 2 aoristPluperfect
Singular 1ωααονειν
Singular 2ειςαςαςεςεις
Singular 3ειεεεει
Dual 2ετονατονατονετονειτον
Dual 3ετονατηνατηνετηνειτην
Plural 1ομεναμεναμενομενειμεν
Plural 2ετεατεατεετεειτε
Plural 3ουσι (for ονσι)ᾱσι (for ανσι)ανονεσαν or εισαν

II. Passive and middle

Number and personPresent, future, and future perfectImperfect passive and middle, and 2 aorist middleAorist middle
Singular 1ομαιομηνᾱμην
Singular 2 or ει (for εσαι, εαι)ου (for εσο, εο)ω (for ασο, αο)
Singular 3εταιετοᾱτο
Dual 2εσθονεσθονασθον
Dual 3εσθονεσθηνασθην
Plural 1ομεθαομεθααμεθα
Plural 2εσθεεσθεασθε
Plural 3ονταιοντοαντο

By adding these terminations to the unprolonged tense stems as they are given in § 111, all the tenses of the indicative, except those included in § 112, 3, may be formed. The latter may be formed by adding the personal endings given in § 112, 2 directly to the tense stems.

Note 1. The endings σαι and σο in the second person singular of the passive and middle drop σ after a connecting vowel (§ 9, 4, N. 1), and are then contracted with the connecting vowel (§ 9, 4, N. 1). Thus, λύῃ or λύει is for λυεσαι, λύεαι; ἐλύου is for ἐλυεσο, ἐλύεο; ἐλύσω (aorist middle) is for ἐλυσασο, ἐλύσαο. The uncontracted forms (without σ) are common in Ionic Greek (§ 119, 2).

Note 2. The second persons βούλει (of βούλομαι, wish), οἴει (of οἴομαι, think), and ὄψει (of ὄψομαι, fut. of ὁράω, see) have no forms in .

Note 3. A first person dual in μεθον is found very rarely in poetry; as λελείμμεθον (pf. pass. of λείπω).

Note 4. The Attic writers sometimes have η (contracted from the Ionic εα, § 119, 4) for ειν in the first person singular of the pluperfect active, as ἐμεμαθήκη.

Note 5. In Homer τον and σθον are sometimes used for την and σθην in the dual. This occurs rarely in the Attic poets, who sometimes have την for τον in the second person. The latter is found occasionally even in prose.

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