Abstract

The two Greek adverbs for 'in vain' have still no good etymology above all because it is difficult to determine the exact meaning of the connected roots. The Author takes into consideration the etymology proposed on the ground of phonetic laws and explains the meaning of the connected roots postulating a conceptual metaphor which is clear also in Latin and in Late Latin. The metaphor, grounded on the concept of a movement that is denied "de facto", strengthens the etymological conjectures.