Homer uses ἀτρύγετος as an epithet of the sea and sky. The etymology has traditionally been taken to be α participle formed from ἀ + τρυγάω, unharvested or barren, but Beekes says this is "formally not easy" and discusses a couple of other possibilities. What is it that doesn't work about this etymology?
1 Answer
If from τρυγάω, the expected form would be ἀτρύγητος, since in such formations the stem vowel is lengthened (and long α becomes η in Ionic). Chantraine tentatively mentions the possibility that ἀτρύγετος might be a shortening of this expected form metri causa, but that would be an irregular development.
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Are there any other instances of eta to episolon made metri causa? I can think of a few instances of quantitative metathesis, but not like this (at least nothing is coming to mind).– cmw ♦Sep 27, 2021 at 3:43
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2Thanks! I put a summary it the wiktionary entry: en.wiktionary.org/wiki/ἀτρύγετος– user3597Sep 27, 2021 at 15:38