MOVABLE CONSONANTS

Movable N may be added at the end of a word when the next word begins with a vowel. Movable ν may be annexed to words ending in -σι; to the third person singular in -ε; and to ἐστί is.

Thus, πᾶσιν ἔλεγεν ἐκεῖνα he said that to everybody (but πᾶσι λέγουσι ταῦτα), λέγουσιν ἐμοί they speak to me (but λέγουσί μοι), ἔστιν ἄλλος there is another (187 b), Ἀθήνησιν ἦσαν they were at Athens.

a. Except ἐστί, words that add ν do not elide their final vowel (73).

b. Verbs in -εω never (in Attic) add -ν to the 3 sing. of the contracted form: εὖ ἐποίει αὐτόν he treated him well. But ἤει went and pluperfects (as ᾔδει knew) may add ν.

N.—Movable ν is called ν ἐφελκυστικόν (dragging after).

Movable ν is usually written at the end of clauses, and at the end of a verse in poetry. To make a syllable long by position (144) the poets add ν before words beginning with a consonant. Prose inscriptions frequently use ν before a consonant.

Movable Σ appears in οὕτως thus, ἐξ out of, before vowels, οὕτω, εκ́ before consonants. Thus, οὕτως ἐποίει he acted thus but οὕτω ποιεῖ he acts thus; ἐξ ἀγορᾶς but ἐκ τῆς ἀγορᾶς out of the market-place.

a. εὐθύς means straightway, εὐθύ straight towards.