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[89] ἐπηετανόν. The old interpretation of this word is ‘lasting out the year,’ as if compounded of “ἐπί” and “ἔτος”. As illustrating this, reference is made to its application to plants “ἐπηετανὸν γανόωσαι” Od.7. 128, and to the similar use of “ἐπετήσιος” ib. 118. But Curtius, Gk. Etym. 346, follows Döderl. in regarding it as a compound of “ἐπί” and “αἰεί” (Boeotian “ἠΐ”). “ἐπ-ηε-τανός” will then be a formation similar to “ἐφ-ημέρ-ιος”, the termination being identical with the Skt. -tana, as nUtanas, ‘present;’ and the Lat. -tinus, as in cras-tinus. This suits better such passages as “ἐπηετανὸν γὰρ ἔχεσκον” Od.7. 99, “κομιδὴ ἐπηετανός” Od.8. 232, “πχυνοὶ ἐπηετανοί” Od.6. 86, “ἀρδμοὶ ἐπηετανοί” Od.13. 247.The word is used loosely in the sense of ‘plentiful,’ in h. Hom. Merc. 113.

θῆσθαι, ‘to draw.’ Hesych. quotes an active infinitive aorist “θῆσαι”, other forms from the aorist being “θήσατο μαζόν” Il.24. 58, “θησάμενος” h. Hom. Cer. 236; and, in the sense of ‘suckled’ h. Hom. Apoll. 123. For the form θῆ-σθαι (non-Thematic), see Monro, H. G. § 19. The root is “θα” (“θη”), compare “θηλή, τι-θή-νη”, Lat. fi-lius, femina, felare. See Curt. Gk. Etym. 227.

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

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hide References (9 total)
  • Commentary references from this page (9):
    • Homer, Iliad, 24.58
    • Homer, Odyssey, 13.247
    • Homer, Odyssey, 6.86
    • Homer, Odyssey, 7.128
    • Homer, Odyssey, 7.99
    • Homer, Odyssey, 8.232
    • Homeric Hymns, Hymn 2 to Demeter, 236
    • Homeric Hymns, Hymn 3 to Apollo, 123
    • Homeric Hymns, Hymn 4 to Hermes, 113
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