-σθ- in 1st pl pres ind mp ending

Greek Learning Greek
1

E.g., ἑζόμεσθ᾽ in Sophocles, OT 32. Perseus says “epic poetic,” and I believe it, yet am wondering whether there is any regularity about it, as I failed to find anything to this effect in Smyth.

2

Neither Finglass nor Dawe mention the form in their commentaries.

3

I do not see it under ἕζομαι in LSJ, nor even in Cunliffe. So, I infer that it must be regular. But do any grammar books mention this form of 1st pl pres ind mp?

4

Goodwin 777.1 says the poets have μεσθα for μεθα

5

Thanks a lot!

6

Smyth, 465d

7

Oh, thanks! I should have searched better.

8

Also see Kühner T1.B2.211.7.Anmerk for a number of examples.

Anmerk. Als Nebenform der 1. Person des Plurals erscheint μεσθα, welches sich in der epischen, sowie auch in der (dorischen und) attischen Dichtersprache neben μεθα oft findet (s. Greg. C. 181 und 462), als: ἐδινεόμεσθα Od. ι, 153. τετιμήμεσθα Il. μ, 310; bei Pindar ἁπτόμεσθα P. 10, 28 (einziges Beispiel). λασεύμεσθ᾽ Theokr. 4, 39. θησεύμεσθα 8, 13. πελόμεσθα 13, 4. πελαζόμεσθα Aesch. S. 144. πειρασόμεσθα Ag. 850. ἑζόμεσθ᾽ Soph. OR. 32. εἰσόμεσθα 84. ἐπιστάμεσθα Eur. Alc. 803. μεθηρμόσμεσθα 1157. ἀπαιτούμεσθ᾽ Ph. 602. ἐξελαυνόμεσθα 607. ἑξόμεσθα Ar. Pl. 101. ἀποψώμεσθα 817. νεμόμεσθα Av. 159. πιθώμεσθ᾽ 164. βουλόμεσθα Eq. 565._2) Curtius, Verb. I_2, 93f.

9

Note that it’s used only under metrical necessity. It’s morphologically odd (though frequent) and I don’t know how it came into being, but I suspect contamination from -εσθ- in the infinitive.