Doubling of consonants

Syllabic Augment.—Verbs beginning with a consonant prefix ε as the augment, which thus increases the word by one syllable. In the pluperfect ε is prefixed to the reduplication.

a. Verbs beginning with ρ double the ρ after the augment. ῥῑ́πτω throw, ἔ-ρρῑπτον, ἔ-ρρῑψα, ἐ-ρρῑ́φθην; ῥήγνῡμι break, ἔ-ρρηξα, ἐ-ρράγην.

N.—ρρ is here due to assimilation of ϝρ, as in Hom. ἔρρεξα did (and ἔρεξα); of σρ in ἔρρεον flowed. Cp. 80 a.

In all other cases the reduplication is formed like the augment.

a. Verbs beginning with a short vowel lengthen the vowel, as ἄγω lead, ἦχα; ὀρθόω set upright, ὤρθωκα; ἀγγέλλω announce, ἤγγελκα.

b. Verbs beginning with two or more consonants (except a stop with a liquid), a double consonant, and ρ simply prefix ε. ρ is here doubled (cp. 429 a). Thus, κτίζω found, ἔ-κτικα; σπείρω sow, ἔ-σπαρμαι; στρατηγέω am general, ἐ-στρατήγηκα; ζητέω seek, ἐ-ζήτηκα; ψαύω touch, ἔ-ψαυκα; ῥῑ́πτω throw, ἔρρῑφα.

N.—μιμνῄσκω remind and κτάομαι acquire are exceptions: μέ-μνημαι, ἐ-μεμνήμην; κέ-κτημαι, ἐ-κε-κτήμην.

Vowel Verbs.—Verb-stems ending in a short vowel lengthen the vowel before the tense suffix (α to η except after ε, ι, ρ). Thus, τῑμάω, τῑμήσω; ἐάω, ἐᾱ́σω; φιλέω, φιλήσω.

a. On χράω give oracles, χράομαι use, ἀκροάομαι hear, see 487 a.

b. For verbs retaining a short final vowel, see 488.

Liquid Verbs.—Verb-stems ending in λ, μ, ν, ρ lose ς and lengthen their vowel in compensation (37): α to η (after ι or ρ to ᾱ), ε to ει, ῐ to ῑ, ῠ to ῡ.

φαίνω (φαν-) show, ἔφηνα for ἐφανσα; περαίνω (περαν-) finish, ἐπέρᾱνα for ἐπερανσα; στέλλω (στελ-) send, ἔστειλα for ἐστελσα; κρῑ́νω (κριν-) judge, ἔκρῑνα for ἐκρινσα; ἅλλομαι (ἁλ-) leap, ἡλάμην for ἡλσαμην.

a. Some verbs in -αινω (-αν-) have -ᾱνα instead of -ηνα; as γλυκαίνω sweeten ἐγλύκᾱνα. So ἰσχναίνω make thin, κερδαίνω gain, κοιλαίνω hollow out, λιπαίνω fatten, ὀργαίνω be angry, πεπαίνω make ripe. Cp. 30 a.

b. The poetic verbs retaining ς in the future (536) retain it also in the aorist.

c. αἴρω (ἀρ-) raise is treated as if its verb-stem were ᾱ̓ρ- (contracted from ἀερ- in ἀείρω): aor. ἦρα, ᾱ̓́ρω, ᾱ̓́ραιμι, ἆρον, ἆραι, ᾱ̓́ρας, and ἠράμην, ᾱ̓́ρωμαι, ᾱ̓ραίμην, ᾱ̓́ρασθαι, ᾱ̓ράμενος.

d. ἤνεγκα is used as the first aorist of φέρω bear. εἶπα is rare for εἶπον (549).

The quantity of most syllables is usually apparent. Thus, syllables

a. with η, ω, or a diphthong, are long.

b. with ε, ο, before a vowel or a single consonant, are short.

c. with ε, ο, before two consonants, or a double consonant, are long.

d. with α, ι, υ, before two consonants, or a double consonant, are long.

N.—But syllables with ε, ο, or α, ι, υ before a stop and a liquid may be short (145). Cp. also 147 c.