Greek (was Re: References? was Re: Global Warming)

[brian whatcott <inet@INTELLISYS.NET>]

At 10:34 4/5/01 -0700, Bernard wrote:
> will one of you Greeks out there give the plural?
>
> Thermopolae   (hot state?  famous Greek battle),  therefore,  metropolae
> (mother state)
> all Greek city states?   Dict. gives metropolises (naturlich)  This is
correct
> for apparatuses as it's not a Latin word.  I would think, since Latin
includes
> many Greek words, ae would be correct.  Many agree with me, as a google
search
> of metropolae results in many sites!
>
> bc
> P.s. the first is global warming will flood coastal metropolises!!!!!!!

The Greek plural form of -polis is -poleis

The site of the famous battle was Thermopylae, where the Spartan Leonidas
held the pass with 300 troops against the onslaught of the Persian Xerxes'
hoards.
200 years later, Callipus did as much again, but after another hundred years,
the Syrian Antiochus succumbed to the Roman advance there.

Usage does not appeal to the dictionary however.
You could try metropolitia, metropolia, metropolides, metropolitica;
none of which have any real justification.

brian whatcott <inet@intellisys.net>  Altus OK
                Eureka!