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[584] στεῦτο. Eustath. says “στεῦτο ἀντὶ τοῦ ἵστατο”, and quotes the comment of the Schol. V. “κέχρηται δὲ τῇ λέξει ὁ διασκευαστὴς παρὰ τὴν ποιητοῦ συνήθειαν”. But “στεῦμαι” is never used in Homer of ‘standing;’ and Aristarchus rightly interprets “τὸ κατὰ διάνοιαν διωρίζετο . . στάσιν γὰρ ψυχῆς σημαίνει ἡ λέξις”. Almost identical are the words of Apollon. Lex. “κατὰ διάνοιαν ἵστατο, οἷον διωρίζετο”. So Meric Casaubon, quoted by Löwe, “‘Est in isto verbo (ut alibi pluribus) animi gestientis et aliquid cupide molientis per externos gestus indicatio. Hoc igitur vult poeta his verbis, eam fuisse Tantali seu in pedes erecti sive alio quocunque gestu, ut de pugilibus olim loqui soliti, “προβολὴν”, ut ardentissimam sitim prae se ferret.’” Cp. Il.2. 597; 3.83; 5.832; 9. 241; 18. 191; 21. 455; Od.17. 525.Curtius refers “στεῦμαι” to root “σταϝ” or “στεϝ”, seen in “σταυρός”, Lat. instaurare. Düntzer, with less probability, connects it with a root “στυ”, seen in “στόμα”, and meaning ‘call out,’ ‘speak.’ This position Curtius attacks, pointing out that the root stu in Skt. must mean ‘to praise.’ If we have to take “στεῦτο” as = “ἵστατο”, we must join “διψάων πιέειν”. Transl. ‘eagerly essayed in his thirst; but he was not able to take anything to drink withal.’

Homer's Odyssey. W. Walter Merry. James Riddell. D. B. Monro. Oxford. Clarendon Press. 1886-1901.

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