Herbert Weir Smyth, A Greek Grammar for Colleges

VARIOUS CONSONANT CHANGES

a. Transposition proper does not occur where we have to do with αρ, ρα ῀ ṛ (20, 35 b) as in θάρσος and θράσος courage; or with syncope (44 b) due to early shifting of accent, as in πέτ-ομαι fly, πτε-ρόν wing; or where a long vowel follows the syncopated root, as in τέμ-νω τέ-τμη-κα I have cut.

In βέβληκα I have thrown (βάλλω throw), βλη is formed from βελε found in βέλε-μνον missile.

[*] 128 D. Hom. κραδίη, καρδίη heart, κάρτιστος best (κράτιστος), βάρδιστος slowest (βραδύς), δρατός and -δαρτος from δέρω flay, ἔ-δρακον saw from δέρκομαι see.

[*] 129. Dissimilation.—a. λ sometimes becomes ρ when λ appears in the same word: ἀργαλέος painful for ἀλγαλεος (ἄλγος pain).

b. A consonant (usually ρ) sometimes disappears when it occurs also in the adjoining syllable: δρύφακτος railing for δρυ-φρακτος (lit. fenced by wood).

c. Syllabic dissimilation or syncope occurs when the same or two similar syllables containing the same consonant succeed each other: ἀμφορεύς a jar for ἀμφι-φορευς, θάρσυνος bold for θαρσο-συνος. This is often called haplology.

d. See also under 99, 125 a, b.

[*] 130. Development.—δ is developed between ν and ρ, as in ἀνδρός of a man for ἀνρος from ἀνήρ (cp. cinder with Lat. cineris); β is developed between μ and ρ (or λ), as in μεσημβρία_ midday, south from μεσ-ημρια_ for μεσ-ημερια_ from μέσος middle and ἡμέρα_ day (cp. chamber with Lat. camera).

[*] 130 D. So in Hom. μέ-μβλω-κα have gone from μλω from μολ- in ἔ-μολ-ο-ν (128 a). At the beginning of words this μ is dropped; thus, βλώσκω go, βροτός mortal for μβρο-τος (root μρο-, μορ-, as in mor-tuus). In composition μ remains, as in ἄ-μβροτος immortal; but ἄ-βροτος immortal is formed from βροτός.

[*] 131. Labials and dentals often correspond: ποινή and τίσις retribution; φόνος murder, θείνω strike. π and κ: αἰπόλος goat-herd, βουκόλος ox-herd. πτ for τ is found in πτόλεμος war, πτόλις city for πόλεμος, πόλις. Cp. Neoptolemus and Ptolemy. So χθ and χ in χθών ground, χαμαί on the ground.

[*] 132. The dialects often show consonants different from Attic in the same or kindred words.

[*] 132 D. τ for ς: Doric τύ, τοί, τέ, δια_κατίοι (δια_κόσιοι), ϝί_κατι (εἴκοσι), Ποτειδά_ν (Ποσειδών).

ς “ τ: Doric σά_μερον to-day (τήμερον Attic, σήμερον Ionic).

κ “ π: Ionic (not Hom.) κότε when, κότερος which of two? ὅκως, κόσος, κῆ.

κ “ τ: Doric πόκα (πότε), ὅκα (ὅτε).

γ “ β: Doric γλέφαρον eyelid, γλά_χων (Ion. γλήχων) pennyroyal.

δ “ β: Doric ὀδελός (ὀβολός) a spit.

π “ τ: Hom. πίσυρες, Aeol. πέσσυρες four (τέτταρες); Aeol. πήλυι far off (cp. τηλόσε), πέμπε five (πέντε).

θ “ τ: see 126 D.

φ “ θ: Hom. φήρ centaur (θήρ beast).

ρ “ ς: (rhotacism): late Laconian, Elean τίρ who, Thessal. Θεόρδοτος god-given.

ς “ θ: late Laconian σιός for θεός god (26 D.).

ν “ λ: Doric ἐνθεῖν come.

GREEK GRAM.—3