Μεσσά-πιοι

Grammatical information: adv. and prep. (w. gen., dat. a. acc.)

Meaning: `in the midst, after; between, with' (Il.).

Dialectal forms: Myc. meta

Origin: IE [Indo-European] [702] * meth₂ ? `in the midst, between, after'

Etymology: Without exact agreement outside Greek. Very similar is Germ., e.g. Goth. miÞ, ONord. með, OHG mit(i) `with, among' \< IE *met(í) or medhi (to μέσος?); Gr. -( τ)α could be an innovation after κατά, ἀνά, διά etc. A similar element is found often in Illyrian names: Metu-barbis, Met-apa, Μετ-άπιοι (hellenized Μεσσά-πιοι; vgl. Kretschmer Glotta 30, 162ff., 165f.), further also Alb. mjet `middle' (Porzig Gliederung 151 with Krahe). Cognate are further μέχρι (s. v.), prob. also μέσος. Details in Schwyzer 622 a. 629, Schwyzer-Debrunner 481 ff.; for the development of the meaning esp. Wackernagel Syntax 2, 241ff. Quite diff. Hahn Lang. 18, 83 ff.: to IE * sem- in εἷς etc.; not convincing. -- Here τὰ μέταζε `afterwards' (Hes. Op. 394 after Hdn. a. o.; τὰ μεταξύ codd.) with - ζε as in θύρα-ζε a. o.; usually and old μεταξύ adv. `in the midst, between' (Il.), late also `afterwards'; from μετα + ξυ(ν)?; Schwyzer 633 asking, Ruipérez Emer. 20, 197. -- Instead and beside μετά some dial. (Aeol., Dor., Arc.) use πεδά (s. v.).

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