13.6 Prepositions often double as prefixes for verbs (cf. G 437). The core meanings of the most common prefixes are as follows.
- ἀμφί around
- ἀνά up
- ἀντί back, against, opposite
- ἀπό from
- διά through
- εἰς into
- ἐκ out of
- ἐν in
- ἐπί on
- κατά down
- μετά with
- παρά beside, to
- περί around
- πρό before
- πρός toward
- σύν with
- ὑπέρ above
- ὑπό under
13.7 Prefixes, Elision, and Aspiration
When prefixes are attached to verbs, any final vowel drops out – or ELIDES – if the tense stem to which it is added begins with a vowel. As with prepositions, the prefixes περί and πρό are an exception to this rule, and do not elide. If a prefix drops its final vowel, the remaining consonant becomes ASPIRATED if the tense stem begins with an aspirated vowel or diphthong.
We have encountered in earlier lessons some verbs that have prefixes. Note the changes that occur to the prefixes in some of these examples.
- ἀνίστημι (ἀνα + ἵστημι) raise, appoint
- ἀποδίδωμι (ἀπο + δίδωμι) give back
- ἀφίημι (ἀπο + ἵημι) let go, allow, forgive
- ἐπιτίθημι (ἐπι + τίθημι) put on
- καθίστημι (κατα + ἵστημι) set down, establish
- παραδίδωμι (παρα + δίδωμι) hand over, deliver
- πάρειμι (παρα + εἰμί) be present
- παρίστημι (παρα + ἵστημι) present
- προστίθημι (προς + τίθημι) add to
- ἐν, ἐγ-, ἐμ- in
- σύν, συγ-, συμ-, συλ- with
When the prepositions ἐν and σύν are used as prefixes, they retain their final -ν when the verb begins with a vowel. When the verb begins with a consonant, they ASSIMILATE with this consonant.
- They retain their form (ἐν– and συν–) before a dental (τ, δ, θ)
- They become ἐμ– and συμ– before a labial (π, β, φ, ψ)
- They become ἐγ– and συγ– before a palatal (κ, γ, χ, ξ)
- συν becomes συλ– before λ.
For example:
- ἐν + βάλλω throw
- ἐμβάλλω throw in; hand in
- σύν + λαμβάνω take
- συλλαμβάνω collect; gather together
- ἐν + ἐργέω work
- ἐνεργέω be in action; be efficient; operate