GREEK PREPOSITIONS. 315 



verfing the idea denoted by the word with which it is connect- 

 ed. 



In all thefe different cognates, we find the idea of reverfing or 

 tracing backward implied; and Apollonius Sophista, in his 

 Lexicon Homericum, mentions this as the primitive idea denoted 

 by the prepofition dvu. *. Here, then, I think, we may fix the 

 radical fenfe of the word. Am appears evidently to be a noun, 

 having the literal fignification of reverfed^ turned back, or traced 

 backwards ; and, if neceffary, fome common and obvious word, 

 fuch as direction, pofition, or the like, may be fuppofed to be im- 

 plied and underftood ; but this will feldom be required f . 



We may, therefore, give the radical meaning of dvu, as back, 

 backward, reverfed, or traced back. Thus, in Xenophon, dvu ro- 

 rupov dnxopitruv, " they bore them, — the river being traced back- 

 u wards in their bearing," i. e. bore them againfl the flream, or 

 up the river. 



From this radical meaning, the other applications will be 

 found naturally to arife. 



1. Very frequently aw fignifies up or upward, becaufe down- 

 ox downward being the natural and ufual direction which bodies 

 take when left to themfelves, up is confequently the natural di- 

 rection reverfed or traced back, and therefore properly exprefTed 

 by uvu. 



'Clg enruv dvu vqog g£jjy, ixtASvru (if ZTuigovg 



' Avrovg r dftQuivsiv, dvu r& trgviAv/iinu avctui. HOMER, 



u Having thus fpoken, I afcended the veffel, and ordered my 



" companions 



Apollon. Sophisi. fub voce Aw*. 



•f- Parkhursi's idea of the derivation of this prepofition from a Hebrew word 

 fignifying an anfwer, coincides pretty nearly with the idea here ftated. The He 

 brew, word for an anfwer may probably have originally denoted a rebound* 



