Preposition + Verb Compounds

Greek Learning Greek
1

I’ve noticed that there are a lot of verbs that appear to be compounds of a preposition and a verb, the prepositional prefixes ending in a vowel and the verb proper beginning with a consonant. Now when you make the verb aorist, the epsilon augment would fall between the preposition and the verb, correct? Since that would result in the terminal vowel of the preposition falling directly before the epsilon, the terminal vowel would be elided, would it not? Thanks.

2

Yes that’s right. E.g. δι-έγραψεν, παρ-έλιπεν, ἀπ-επαυσάμην. But περι doesn’t elide.

3

Thanks again. I had been looking over words beginning with ana.

4

Is there logic or limitation of period / dialect about where the syllabic augment combines with the prefixed preposition προ- to give an ου?

5

How would we know? Scribal and editorial practice are insecure guides, and meter not always determinative. But it would be in accordance with Greek phonological behavior if πρου- rather than προε- is a better reflection of the pronunciation across the board.