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[130] νύμφα is the name by which a Greek woman still speaks of her brother's wife; so also nuse in Albanian, properly bride. The form is to be classed with “συβῶτα, ἠπεροπευτά, τοξότα”, etc., as an instance of the old vocative of the “-α” declension, which survived only in Aiolic. Sappho has “ὦ Δίκα^” fr. 78, “νύμφα^” fr. 105. The statement of Schol. A, “Ἰωνικὰ νύμφα τόλμα”, lacks all confirmation. See H. G. § 92 and p. 390. θέσκελα, strange, a word of unknown origin recurring 23.107, Od. 11.374, 610. Of course the old derivation “θεοῖς ἴκελος” is impossible; but we naturally think of the equally obscure “θέσφατος”.

The Iliad, edited, with apparatus criticus, prolegomena, notes, and appendices. Walter Leaf. London. Macmillan. 1900.

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