Topic · from the English index · as printed

Causative

verbs

DENOMINATIVE VERBS

Denominative verbs are formed from the stems of nouns (substantives or adjectives). Verbs lacking such a noun-stem are made on the model of the ordinary denominative verb. The principal terminations are as follows:

1. -αω: derived chiefly from words with stems (a few from words of the second declension). Verbs in -αω denote to do, to be , or to have, that which is expressed by the stem.

τῑμά-ω honour (τῑμή, stem τῑμᾱ-), ᾱ̓ριστά-ω breakfast (ᾱ̓́ριστο-ν breakfast), τολμά-ω dare (τόλμα daring, stem τολμᾱ-), κομά-ω wear long hair (κόμη hair). κοιμά-ω, lull to sleep, has no primitive noun.

On -ιαω and -αω denoting a desire or a bodily condition, see 868 b.

2. -εω: derived chiefly from όε- stems (834 f), and thence extended to all kinds of stems. Verbs in -εω denote a condition or an activity, and are often intransitive.

οἰκέ-ω dwell (οἶκο-ς house, οἰκόε-), φιλέ-ω love (φίλο-ς dear, φιλόε-), ὑπηρετέω serve (ὑπηρέτης servant, ὑπηρετᾱ-), εὐτυχ-έ-ω am fortunate (εὐτυχής fortunate, εὐτυχεσ-), μῑσ-έ-ω hate (μῖσος hate, μῑσεσ-), σωφρον-έ-ω am temperate (σώφρων), μαρτυρ-έ-ω bear witness (μάρτυς, -υρ-ος).

a. Some εω-verbs from εσ-stems have older forms in -είω (624 a).

3. -οω: chiefly derived from ο-stems. Verbs in -οω are usually factitive, denoting to cause or to make.

δηλό-ω manifest, make clear (δῆλο-ς), δουλό-ω enslave (δοῦλο-ς), ζηλό-ω emulate (ζῆλο-ς emulation), ζημιό-ω punish (ζημίᾱ damage), μαστῑγό-ω whip (μάστιξ, -ῑγος whip). ἀρόω plough has no primitive.

On the formation of the present stem of verbs in -αω, -εω, -οω, see 522.

4. -ευω: derived from substantives from ευ-stems (607) and thence extended to other stems. ευω-verbs usually denote a condition, sometimes an activity.

βασιλεύ-ω am king, rule (βασιλεύ-ς), βουλεύ-ω counsel (βουλή), κινδῡνεύ-ω venture, incur danger (κίνδῡνο-ς), παιδεύ-ω educate (παῖς boy, girl), θεραπεύ-ω attend (θεράπων attendant).

5. -ῡω (rare): from υ-stems, as δακρῡ́-ω weep (δάκρυ tear). Cp. 608.

6. -οζω, -ιζω: derived originally from stems in δ or γ (as ἐλπίζω hope = ἐλπιδ-ῖω, ἁρπάζω seize = ἁρπαγ-ιω), and thence widely extended to other stems (cp. 623 δ, γ). Such verbs denote action.

γυμνάζω exercise (γυμνάς, -άδ-ος stripped, naked); ἀναγκάζω compel (ἀνάγκη necessity); ἀτῑμάζω dishonour (ἄτῑμος); βιάζομαι use force (βίᾱ force); θαυμάζω wonder (θαῦμα); φροντίζω take care (φροντίς); ὑβρίζω insult (ὕβρι-ς outrage); νομίζω consider (νόμο-ς custom, law); τειχίζω fortify (τεῖχ-ος wall, stem τειχεσ-); χαρίζομαι do a favour (χάρις, -ιτος favour).

a. Verbs in -ιζω and -ιαζω derived from proper names express an adoption of language, manners, opinions, or politics:

ἑλληνίζω speak Greek (Ἕλλην), βακχιάζω act like a bacchante (βακχιάς), λακωνίζω imitate Laconian manners (Λάκων), μηδίζω side with the Medes (Μῆδος).

b. Verbs in -εζω, -οζω, and -υζω are rare (πιέζω press, poet. δεσπόζω am lord, κοκκύζω cry cuckoo).

7. -αινω: originally from stems in -αν + ι̯ω (518), but usually extended to other stems. See 620, III.

μελαίνω blacken (μέλᾱς black, μελαν-), εὐφραίνω gladden (εὔφρων glad, εὐφρον-), σημαίνω signify (σῆμα, σήματ-ος sign), χαλεπαίνω am angry (χαλεπό-ς hard, angry).

8. -ῡνω: from stems in υν + ῖω (519). The primitive words often show stems in υ. See 620, III.

βαθῡ́νω deepen (βαθύ-ς deep), ταχῡ́νω hasten (ταχύ-ς swift), αἰσχῡ́νω disgrace (αἶσχ-ος shame), θαρρῡ́νω encourage (θάρρ-ος courage).

9. On other denominatives in λω, νω, ρω, see 620, III; on inceptives see 526-528.

10. Parallel formations are frequent, often with different meanings.

ᾱ̓ριστάω take a midday meal, ᾱ̓ριστίζω give a midday meal; ἀτιμάω, (poet.) ἀτῑμόω, ἀτῑμάζω dishonour; δουλόω enslave, δουλεύω am a slave; εὐδαιμονέω am happy, εὐδαιμονίζω account happy, congratulate; θαρρέω am courageous, θαρρῡ́νω encourage; ὁρκόω, ὁρκίζω make one swear an oath; ὁρμάω urge on, ὁρμαίνω (poet.) ponder; ὁρμέω lie at anchor, ὁρμίζω anchor trans. (ὅρμος anchorage); πολεμέω (πολεμίζω Epic) wage war, πολεμόω make hostile; σκηνάω put in shelter, mid. take up one's abode, σκηνέω am in camp, σκηνόω encamp, go into quarters; σωφρονέω am temperate, σωφρονίζω chasten; τυραννέω, τυραννεύω am absolute ruler, τυραννίζω take the part of absolute ruler, τυραννιάω (late) smack of tyranny. Cp. 531.

active

ACTIVE VOICE

Causative Active.—The active may be used of an action performed at the bidding of the subject: Κῦρος τὰ βασίλεια κατέκαυσεν Cyrus burnt down the palace (i.e. had it burnt down) X. A. 1.4.10. So with ἀποκτείνειν put to death, θάπτειν bury, οἰκοδομεῖν build, παιδεύειν instruct, ἀνακηρΰττειν publicly proclaim.

middle

MIDDLE VOICE

The Causative Middle denotes that the subject has something done by another for himself: ἐγὼ γάρ σε ταῦτα ἐδιδαξάμην for I had you taught this X. C. 1.6.2, παρατίθεσθαι σῖτον to have food served up 8. 6. 12, ὅσοι ὅπλα ἀφῄρηνται, ταχὺ ἄλλα ποιήσονται all who have had their arms taken from them will soon get others made 6. 1. 12, ἑαυτῷ σκηνὴν κατεσκευάσατο he had a tent prepared for himself 2. 1. 30.

a. This force does not belong exclusively to the middle; cp. 1711.