Contract verbs that do not lengthen ε to η in the aorist

Greek
1

ἐπαρκέ-ω is a contract verb in the present tense but in the aorist where we “normally” expect to see ε–⟩η we find ἐπήρκεσα. There are of course other verbs like this such as ἐπαινέω, aorist ἐπαινεσ-. I was wondering whether there is a linguistic explanation for this?

2

I don’t know about ἀρκέω, but αἰνέω doesn’t lengthen because it’s from τὸ αἶνος, so the sigma blocked the lengthening of the vowel (before later disappearing).

Note that for third-declension neuter -ος nouns like αἶνος, the sigma is part of the stem, not part of the declension ending, so it would have appeared in compounds.

Wiktionary does list a theory that ἀρκέω is from ἄρκος, and LJS does have τὸ ἄρκος. If that theory is true then it would explain well why ἀρκέω doesn’t lengthen in the aorist.

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3

Thanks for your input xiaq but I dont think it answers my question. Surely something in the early history of ἐπαρκέ-ω has disappeared. But I cant find any evidence of what. One has to be careful about constructing circular arguments.

4

From Willi’s Origins of the Greek Verb §§5.43-4 (which I admittedly don’t understand very well): a derivation from a *-éi̯e/o- ‘iterative’ may explain the future/aorist root in -εσ(σ)α in this class of verb.

Chantraine’s Morphologie §281 and 289 provides examples but no linguistic explanation (beyond: “Il est possible que dans certains de ces verbes le thème en -η du futur et de l’aoriste soit ancien, et qu’ils ne constituent pas proprement des dérivés de thèmes en s.”)

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Thanks Nate. I think I am going to give up on this one. This particular hare started because Reading Ancient Greek rather categorically states that contract verbs lengthen their vowel in the aorist and then mention a few monosyllabic verbs that do not follow the rule, implying (perhaps unintentionally) that those were the only exceptions. Mastronarde is more cautious by saying that “normally” contract verbs lengthen their vowels in the aorist. My class was surprised to see ἐπήρκεσα and I wanted to make sure that I hadn’t missed anything obvious.

Thanks xiaq and nate.a for your contributions.