The adjective αἰσχρός is analyzed as a three-member compound, the basis of which is ἴσχω "to retain", the usual etymology given in Antiquity for αἶσχος and αἰσχρός (see under αἶσχος). Instead of analyzing the -ro- as a suffix, Plato takes it back to ῥόος "flow" (see under βλαβερός), thus implying that *ἰσχοροος is a head initial compound with the structure V-O, as in ἐχενηΐς "which keeps ships back". And he then explains the initial ἀ- through the adverb ἀεί "always". This etymology implies several phonetic manipulations, contraction for the first syllable, syncope for the internal [o], and shortening of the final syllable, all three included into Plato's formulation "compressed".