tioLMEs: co^tpos^n()N of verbs wnri prepositions. 133 



of the preposition in the compound. In exchisions and usurpa- 

 tions the loss of color became easier by reason of the absence of 

 contrast with other prepositions which would have operated to 

 some extent in keeping up the difference in feeling. The function 

 of the simple becomes the function of the compound, the simple 

 often being relegated to poetry, while the compound does duty in 

 prose. The simple often reappears in late Greek, a striking paral- 

 lel to which is found in the Silver Latinity. Thus, KaOi^oixai, e^o/xat 

 being poetic and late Greek. Cf. also a(f>LKveofx'u, dvoi'yvu/xi and aTroWv/xL. 

 The preposition is sometimes ignored in augment. Thus, ^ve'wy/xai, 

 N. T. Rev. 10, 8; Heliodor. g, 9; rjvewxOrjv, Dio Cass. 44, 17; lKj.de.t,6iJir]v 

 Xen. An. i, 5, g; and frequently in Attic. The emergence in late 

 Greek of strengthened compounds often follows loss of color in the 

 preposition. Thus, the strengthened combinations Trpoa-ewi-, lirnrpoa--: 

 i^aTTO-, oLTre^-; crvfjifjieTa-, /jLtracrvv-: TT/aocretcr-.- KJLTavTL- and avTiKixTa-. are 

 not uncommon in late Greek, but rare in classical Greek. Cf. 

 Table III. 



VI. Relative Coiisciousne!!S of Prepositions. 



The loss of color in the preposition naturally suggests the 

 relative consciousness of the prepositions. Here again we cannot 

 hope to be more than suggestive. Valuable service is rendered 

 in this connection by the diprothetics. A careful examination of 

 Tables II. and III. will show the operation of two principles in 

 diprothetic composition. First — a desire for reinforcement — the 

 extension side. Second — a desire for modification — the plastic 

 side. Now reinforcement implies weakness. Language is con- 

 tinually building itself up where long use or abuse has broken it 

 down. In the case of monoprothetics it is evident that most weak- 

 ness is found in extensions and usurpations. A monoprothetic 

 whose prepositional element has faded out is felt as a simple. 

 This leads either to a discarding of the preposition altogether 

 and a restoration of the simple, as actually occurs in late Greek, or 

 to reinforcement. Reinforcement of such monoprothetics gives a 

 diprothetic form but a monoprothetic feeling. The language of 

 Thuc3'dides presents us with a range of 387 separate monopro- 

 thetics, but only 86 diprothetics. It is fair then to conclude that 

 the language may consent to a single union but resist a double 

 one, and since the growth of language is along the line of the least 

 resistance, we find that diprothetics having reinforcement as their 

 cause, greatly preponderate over the plastic use. Now when 

 language reinforces it brings to bear the most powerful means at 

 its command. This is seen in the predominant prepositions in 



