Well, I can't share any folklore, but I think there are several equivalent
alternative forms of the same root with distinctions of meaning that are
negligible, if they exist at all. TO SKOTOS appears to be the more common
older word; I suspect that the first-declension hH SKOTIA becomes more
common with the passing centuries. In the case of some nouns it is clear
that older forms are found more commonly in poetry, younger ones in
prose--although for many notions there are altogether different words in
poetry and in prose (e.g. CQWN, AIA, or even the older GAIA in verse for
the ordinary prose form GH for "earth," "land.") Another noun found in two
different forms in the NT is "son": 2nd declension hO hUIOS or 3rd
declension hO hUIEUS.
Carl W. Conrad
Department of Classics/Washington University
One Brookings Drive/St. Louis, MO, USA 63130/(314) 935-4018
Home: 7222 Colgate Ave./St. Louis, MO 63130/(314) 726-5649
cwconrad@artsci.wustl.edu OR cconrad@yancey.main.nc.us
WWW: http://www.artsci.wustl.edu/~cwconrad/