Liquids

The seventeen consonants are divided into stops (or mutes), spirants, liquids, nasals, and double consonants. They may be arranged according to the degree of tension or slackness of the vocal chords in sounding them, as follows:

a. Voiced (sonant, i.e. sounding) consonants are produced when the vocal chords vibrate. The sounds are represented by the letters β, δ, γ (stops), λ, ρ (liquids), μ, ν, γ-nasal (19 a) (nasals), and ζ. (All the vowels are voiced.) ρ with the rough breathing is voiceless.

b. Voiceless (surd, i.e. hushed) consonants require no exertion of the vocal chords. These are π, τ, κ, φ, θ, χ (stops), ς (spirant or sibilant), and ψ and ξ.

c. Arranged according to the increasing degree of noise, nearest to the vowels are the nasals, in sounding which the air escapes without friction through the nose; next come the semivowels υ̯ and ι̯ (20 a), the liquids, and the spirant ς, in sounding which the air escapes with friction through the cavity of the mouth; next come the stops, which are produced by a removal of an obstruction; and finally the double consonants.

Liquids.—There are two liquids: λ and ρ. Initial ρ always has the rough breathing (13).

Nasals.—There are three nasals: μ (labial), ν (dental), and γ-nasal (palatal).

a. Gamma before κ, γ, χ, ξ is called γ-nasal. It had the sound of n in think, and was represented by n in Latin. Thus, ἄγκῡρα (Lat. ancora) anchor, ἄγγελος (Lat. angelus) messenger, σφίγξ sphinx.

b. The name liquids is often used to include both liquids and nasals.

β, γ, δ are not doubled in Attic (cp. 75 D.). In γγ the first γ is nasal (19 a). φ, χ, θ are not doubled in Attic; instead, we have πφ, κχ, τθ as in Σαπφώ Sappho, Βάκχος Bacchus, Ἀτθίς (Atthis) Attic. Cp. 83 a.

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.

The ᾰ in 479, 480 is developed from a liquid or nasal brought between two consonants (35 b). Thus, ἔσταλμαι, τέταμαι from ἐστḷμαι, τετṇμαι, ἐτάθην from ἐτṇθην (20 b). Here στλ, τν represent weak grades of the stem.

SUFFIXES WITH LIQUIDS (λ, ρ)

1. λο, λᾱ: primary, in φῦ-λο-ν race, φῡ-λή clan (φῡ́-ω produce), πῖ-λο-ς felt (Lat. pi-lu-s), ζεύγ-λη loop of a yoke (ζεύγ-νῡ-μι yoke); ἆθ-λο-ς contest, ἆθλο-ν prize, τυφ-λό-ς blind (τῡ́φ-ω raise a smoke), στρεβ-λό-ς twisted (στρέφ-ω turn). Cp. 858. 7. Secondary, in παχυ-λό-ς thickish (dimin.). αλο, αλᾱ: primary, in ὀμφ-αλό-ς navel, κρότ-αλο-ν clapper (κρότ-ο-ς noise), κεφ-αλή head, τροχ-αλό-ς running (τρέχ-ω), πῑ́-αλο-ς fat (πῑαίνω fatten); secondary, in ὁμ-αλό-ς level (ὁμό-ς one and the same). Developed from this are αλεο, αλεᾱ: πῑ-αλέο-ς fat, κερδ-αλέο-ς wily (κέρδ-ος gain), see 858. 7. ελο, ελᾱ: primary (prob.), in εἴκ-ελο-ς like (ἔοικα am like, εἰκ-), νεφ-έλη cloud (Lat. nebula); secondary, in θυ-μέ-λη altar. ηλο, ηλᾱ: κάπ-ηλο-ς huckster (agency), θυ-ηλή sacrifice (θῡ́-ω), ὑψ-ηλό-ς lofty (ὕψ-ος height); primary or secondary: ἀπατ-η-λό-ς guileful (ἀπάτη guile, ἀπατά-ω cheat), σῑγ-ηλό-ς mute (σῑγή silence, σῑγά-ω am mute). ιλο, ιλᾱ: primary, in τροχ-ίλο-ς sandpiper (τρέχ-ω run); secondary, in ὀργ-ίλο-ς passionate (ὀργή). ῑλο, ῑλα: primary, in στρόβ-ῑλο-ς top (στρέφ-ω turn); secondary, in πέδ-ῑλο-ν sandal (πέδ-η fetter, πούς foot). υλο, υλᾱ: primary, in δάκτ-υλο-ς finger, σταφυλή bunch of grapes. Secondary, in μῑκκ-ύλο-ς small (μῑκκ-ό-ς). ῡλο, ῡλᾱ: σφονδ-ῡ́λη beetle. ωλο, ωλᾱ: primary, in εἴδ-ωλο-ν image (εἴδ-ομαι resemble), εὐχ-ωλή prayer (εὔχ-ομαι). Rare forms: αλιο, αλιμο, ελιο, ηλιο.

2. λυ: primary, in θῆ-λυ-ς female (root θη give suck).

3. ρο, ρᾱ: primary, in substantives: ἀγ-ρό-ς field, Lat. ager (ἄγ-ω), νεκ-ρό-ς corpse (cp. νέκ-ῡ-ς), γαμ-β-ρό-ς son-in-law (γαμ-έ-ω marry, for β see 130), ἐχθ-ρό-ς enemy, ἔχθ-ρᾱ hatred (ἔχθ-ω hate), ἄργυ-ρο-ς silver, ὕδ-ρᾱ hydra (ὕδ-ωρ water); rarely, of instrument 842. 6; of place, in ἕδ-ρᾱ seat; primary, in adjectives (858. 13). αρο, αρᾱ: primary, in βλέφ-αρο-ν eye-lid (βλέπ-ω look), τάλ-αρο-ς basket (τλάω, τλῆναι bear), λιπ-αρό-ς shiny (cp. λίπ-ος fat). ᾱρο (ηρο), ᾱρᾱ (ηρᾱ): primary or secondary, in ἀνι-ᾱ-ρό-ς grievous (ἀνίᾱ grief, ἀνιά-ω grieve), λῡπ-η-ρό-ς painful (λῡ́πη pain, λῡπέ-ω grieve); secondary, in ἀνθ-ηρό-ς flowery (ἄνθ-ος), and perhaps in πον-ηρό-ς toilsome (πόνο-ς, πονέ-ομαι toil). ερο, ερᾱ: secondary, in φοβε-ρό-ς terrible (φόβο-ς terror), whence σκι-ερό-ς shady (σκιᾱ́ shade); also in πενθ-ερό-ς father-inlaw = lit. one who binds (cp. πεῖσμα = πενθ-σμα cable), ἔν-εροι those below the earth (ἐν). υρο, υρᾱ: secondary, in λιγυ-ρό-ς (λιγύ-ς) shrill, whence primary ἄχ-υρο-ν chaff, φλεγ-υρό-ς burning (φλέγ-ω burn). ῡρο, ῡρᾱ: primary or secondary, in ἰσχῡ-ρό-ς strong (ἰσχῡ́-ω am strong, ἰσχῡ́-ς strength); primary, in λέπ-ῡρο-ν rind (λέπ-ω peel), γέφ-ῡρα bridge. ωρο, ωρᾱ: primary, in ὀπ-ώρᾱ late summer (ὄπ-ισθεν at the rear, after).

4. ρι (rare): primary, in ἄκ-ρι-ς hill-top (ἄκ-ρο-ς highest), ἴδ-ρι-ς knowing (εἶδον, ἰδεῖν).

5. ρυ (rare): primary, in δάκ-ρυ tear; cp. Old Lat. dacruma for lacrima.

6. αρ: primary, in ἧπ-αρ, ἥπατ-ος liver (253 b), πῖ-αρ fat, ἔ-αρ spring.—7. ερ, ηρ: primary, in ᾱ̓η̄́ρ ᾱ̓έρ-ος air (ἄημι blow, of the wind), αἰθ-ήρ, -έρ-ος upper air (αἴθ-ω kindle).—8. ωρ: primary: gen. -ατ-ος: ὕδ-ωρ water; gen. -ωρος: ῑ̓χώρ ichor, serum; gen. -ορος: by analogy in αὐτο-κράτ-ωρ possessing full powers (κράτ-ος power).—9. ωρᾱ: primary, in πλη-θ-ώρη (Ionic) satiety, cp. 832.