ἀ-: Difference between revisions

|Definition=as insep. Prefix in compos.:<br><span class="bld">I</span> α [[στερητικόν]] (Sch.Od. 3.279, etc., cf. Eust.985.16), expressing [[want]] or [[absence]] (cf. Arist. Metaph.1022b32), as [[σοφός]] = [[wise]], [[ἄσοφος]] = [[unwise]]: for n, the weak form of the negative [[νη-]], commonly used in the formation of adjs. and advbs., very rarely in that of vbs. and substs., cf. [[ἀδώτης]], [[ἀτιμάω]], [[ἀτίω]]. Before a vowel it usually appears as [[ἀν-]] (exc. where ϝ or [[spiritus asper]] has been lost, as [[ἄοινος]], [[ἄυπνος]], when it sometimes coalesces with the following vowel, as [[ἀργός]] = [[ἀϝεργός]]): the forms [[ἀνάεδνος]], [[ἀνάελπτος]] are probably misspelt for [[ἀνέϝεδνος]], [[έϝελπτος]]. Adjs. formed with it freq. take gen., especially in Trag., cf. [[ἀλαμπής|ἀλαμπὲς]] ἡλίου = ἄνευ λάμψεως ἡλίου, S.Tr.691. [ᾰ, exc. in adjs. which begin with three short syllables, which have ᾱ in Ep., and freq. also in Lyr., Trag., and Com.; [[ἀθάνατος]] invariably has ᾱθ.]<br><span class="bld">II</span> α [[ἀθροιστικός|ἀθροιστικόν]] (Eust. 641.61; τὸ ἄλφα σημαίνει πολλαχοῦ τὸ ὁμοῦ Pl.Cra.405c), properly ἁ- since it represents sm- (cf. [[ἅμα]], [[εἷς]] = [[sems]]), and so in [[ἁπλόος]], [[ἁθρόος]]: but freq. ἀ- by [[dissimilation]] from following aspirate, as [[ἄλοχος]], and hence by analogy in [[ἄκοιτις]], etc., [[quod vide|q.v.]]: sometimes in the form ὀ-, as in [[ὄπατρος]], [[ὀγάστριος]], [[ὄζυξ]] [ᾰ.]<br><span class="bld">III</span> α [[ἐπιτατικός|ἐπιτατικόν]] (Eust. 641.61), strengthening the force of compds., as [[ἀτενής]]; prob. identical in etymology with ''ΙΙ'', from which it is distinguished by Gramm., who sometimes confuse it with ''1''; v. [[ἀδάκρυτος]]. [ᾰ.]<br><span class="bld">ἀ-</span> as a prothetic vowel, usually before a double consonant, as [[ἀβληχρός]], [[ἀσπαίρω]]; sometimes before a single consonant, as [[ἀμέλγω]]; before a vowel where ϝ is lost, as [[ἀϝείδω]]. [ᾰ]