Note 343 — RADICALS.

In these and in all other instances of this term occurring in Homer, it is observable, that it is always in the same acceptation, and uniformly precedes the same word, αριστος. It is indeed to be found in the poetry ascribed to [343]Orpheus: but as those verses are manifestly imitations of Homer, we must not look upon it as a current term of the times, when that poetry was composed: nor was it ever, I believe, in common use, not even in the age of Homer. It was an Amonian term, joined inseparably with another borrowed from the same people. For αριστος was from Egypt, and Chaldea. Indeed, most of the irregular degrees of comparison are from that quarter; being derived from the Sun, the great Deity of the Pagan world, and from his titles and properties. Both αρειων and αριστος were from αρης, the Arez of the east. From Bel, and Baaltis, came βελτιων, and βελτιστος: αμεινων is an inflection from Amon. From the God Aloeus came λωιος, λωιτερος, and λωιστος: from κερεν changed to κερας, κερατος, were formed κρεσσων, κρεισσων, κρατερος, and κρατιστος.