318 DISQUISITIONS on the 



Avti. 



Avr) is explained both by Linnep and Scheide, as one of the 

 cafes of an obfolete noun ccvg, in the genitive olvrog, fignifying 

 front or face. In this etymology they appear to be well found- 

 ed ; for though the noun dvg itfelf is fallen into difufe, yet we 

 (till find fufficient remains to indicate its former exiftence. Avroc, 

 evidently its accufative cafe, is in frequent ufe as an adverb, to 

 exprefs before, — in pre fence, in face of: oivrnv, probably the accu- 

 fative cafe of a cognate noun, is likewife ufed adverbially in the 

 fame fenfe with oivru: the adjectives imvriogand di/riog*, and the ad- 

 verb uvriKgug, both of them immediate derivatives, exprefs alfo 

 in prefence, in front of: the verb uvre&ut is explained by Hesy- 

 chius as fynonymous with Xiranviiv, to fupplicate, f. e. to fall 

 down before, or in front of in pre fence of. To all this may be 

 added, that the Latin prepofition ante (evidently the fame word 

 radically with the Greek dvr\ j~), uniformly expreffes before, 

 equivalent to in front j and in the fame language we find a fub- 

 flantive noun antes, (a plural from the fingular anta,) denoting 



the 



* That arno? fignifies literally in front, the following trait in the Spartan epi- 

 gram, which defcribes the body of Thrasybulus carried back from the battle, 

 clearly afcertains : 



" having received feven wounds, — mowing them all in front." 



+ The Latin language is well known to be derived from the Greek ; but it 

 mould always be attended to, that it is the JEolic dialett of the Greek which muft 

 be regarded as the immediate parent of the Latin. Hence many of the words tranf- 

 planted from the Greek to the Latin are found to differ from the common dialefr, 

 but to refwoble very clofely the correfponding word in. the i*Eolic. 



