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148 D. 1. In Hom., and sometimes in the lyric parts of the drama, a syllable ending in a long vowel or diphthong is shortened before an initial vowel: ἄξω ἑλών ([macrdot]˘˘[macrdot]), εὔχεται εἶναι ([macrdot]˘˘[macrdot]¯), κλῦθί μευ ἀργυρότοξ᾽ ([macrdot]:˘˘[macrdot]˘˘[macrdot]). Here ι and υ have become semivowels (20, 43); thus, εὔχετα | yεἶναι, cp. 67. -, -, - were shortened like α_, η, ω. Thus, ἀσπέτῳ ὄμβρῳ ([macrdot]˘˘[macrdot]¯).

2. This shortening does not occur when the rhythmic accent falls upon the final syllable: ἀντιθίῳ ᾿ Οδυσῆι ([macrdot]˘˘[macrdot]˘˘[macrdot]˘), ἔνι ([macrdot]˘˘).

3. The shortening rarely occurs in the interior of a word. Thus, Hom. ἥρωος (¯˘˘), υἱόν (˘˘), in the Attic drama αὑτηΐ (¯˘¯), τοιοῦτος (˘:¯˘), ποιῶ (˘¯), often written ποῶ in inscriptions (cp. 43).

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