28.10 For first aorists of liquid (λ, ρ) or nasal stems (μ, ν), the σ marker drops (S 544, cf. G 331). This is the same phenomenon that we encountered with CONTRACT (also called LIQUID) FUTURES. For the first aorist, the loss of the σ often leads to compensatory lengthening. In such cases, ε often lengthens to ει.
For example:
- ἀγγέλλω (stem: ἀγγελ-)
- → ἤγγειλα (from ἤγγελσα)
- μένω (stem: μεν-)
- → ἔμεινα (from ἔμενσα)
- φαίνω (stem: φαν-)
- → ἔφηνα (from ἔφανσα)