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Movable nu

In ancient Greek grammar, movable nu, movable N or ephelcystic nu ( , literally "dragged-in nu") is a letter nu (written ; the Greek equivalent of the letter n) placed on the end of some grammatical forms in Attic or Ionic Greek. It is used to avoid two vowels in a row (hiatus) and to create a long syllable in poetic meter as a form of epenthesis.

Grammatical forms

Movable nu may appear at the end of certain forms of verbs, nouns, and adjectives. In grammatical paradigms, it is usually written with a parenthesis to indicate that it is optional.

Usage

Movable nu is used before words starting in a vowel to prevent hiatus.

  • πᾶσιν ἔλεγεν ἐκεῖνα "he said those things to everyone"

It is often omitted before consonants, but may be included there to produce a heavy syllable where the poetic meter requires one

  • πᾶσι λέγουσι ταῦτα "they say these things to everyone"
  • πᾶσι λέγουσιν ταῦτα "they say these things to everyone" with the dactylic pattern – Ã¢ÂÂ‘ Ã¢ÂÂ‘ | Ã¢Â€Â“ Ã¢Â€Â“ | Ã¢Â€Â“ ÃƒÂ—

It is often used at the end of clauses or verses.

See also

Sources