APPENDIX (B) ON A 12 § 22, ϕθονεῖσθαι

Summary

On an irregular formation of the Greek passive verb

[The following Appendix has, like the last, already been allowed co appear in the Journal of Philology, Vol. 1 No. 1 (1868), pp. 93–97. The additions in square brackets are taken from the margin of Mr Cope's own copy of the Journal, now in Mr Sandys' possession, s.]

φθоν∈îσθαι, φθоνоύμ∈νоι, is an example of the irregular formation of the passive, which is not seldom found in other Greek authors, but is so much more frequent in Aristotle's writings that it may perhaps be regarded as one of the characteristics of his style. In the Greek Grammars that I have consulted, with the exception of that of Dr Donaldson, who only bestows on it a passing observation, it is left unnoticed, and I will therefore illustrate it by some examples that I have collected.

The best account of it that I have found is given in Madvig's Latin Grammar, Ch. III. on the dative case, § 244 b, and Obs. 3, 4, Engl. Transl.; his explanation of the Latin usage will apply equally well to the Greek.