ἦτα: Difference between revisions

|mdlsjtxt=<br />Η, η, ἦτα, τό, indecl., [[seventh]] [[letter]] of the Gr. [[alphabet]]; as [[numeral]] η# = [[ὀκτώ]] and [[ὄγδοος]], but #22η = 8000. The uncial [[form]] of Eta ( Ἠ was a [[double]] ε and prob. it was [[pronounced]] as a [[long]] ε, cf. [[δῆλος]] (from δέελοσ). The old Alphabet had only one [[sign]] ( Ἐ for the ε [[sound]], [[till]] the [[long]] [[vowels]] η and ω were introduced from the Samian Alphabet in the archonship of [[Euclides]], B. C. 403. The [[sign]] H, [[before]] it was taken to [[represent]] the [[double]] ε, was used for the [[spiritus]] [[asper]], as ΗΟς for ὅς, ([[which]] [[remains]] in the Latin H). When H was taken to [[represent]] [[long]] e, it was at the [[same]] [[time]] cut in two, so that †ι† represented the spir. [[asper]], †ο† the spir. [[lenis]]; [[whence]] came the [[present]] signs for the breathings. As to [[dialectic]] changes,<br /><b class="num">1.</b> the vowel η was [[much]] used by the ionic, [[being]] in aeolic and doric replaced by ᾱ, as also in [[attic]], but [[mostly]] [[after]] ρ or a vowel, [[πρήσσω]] [[θώρηξ]] [[ἰητρός]], [[attic]] [[πράσσω]] [[θώραξ]] [[ἰατρός]].<br /><b class="num">2.</b> in [[attic]], ει and ηι were not [[seldom]] changed [[into]] ῃ, as κλεῖθρα κλῇθρα, Νηρηίδες Νηρῇδες.<br /><b class="num">3.</b> doric and aeolic for ει, as [[τῆνος]], [[κῆνος]] for [[κεῖνος]].