Yes, the way I've seen "thmes" used commonly is in opposition to "racimes"
(roots).
Also, I think that "prtendre" is more "argue," "assert" rather than the
English "pretend."
>For some context:
>
>Ruijgh rejects not only aspect ("nous prfrons limiter l'emploi du terme
>d'aspect la description du verbe slave" [we prefer to limit the use of
>the term of aspect to the description of the Slavic verb]) but also a
>timeless view of the verb ("Nous ne sommes pas d'accord avec ceux qui
>prtendent que les >>>thmes<<< en question n'expriment pas le temps mais
>l'aspect, la vision subjective du locuteur" [We are not in agreement with
>those who pretend that the (Greek verb) >>>stems<<< in question do not
>express time but aspect, the subjective view of the speaker]). ("Les
>Valeurs Temporelles des Formes Verbales en Grec Ancien," TFT, 205)
Carl W. Conrad
Department of Classics/Washington University
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