[270] μογοστόκοι Εἰλείθυιαι, both words of doubtful origin. The first is generally derived from “μόγος”, and explained ‘helping in painful labour. ’ But this does not explain the “ς”, which is probably the relic of an acc. plur., cf. 1.238 “δικασπόλος”; hence lit. pangs-generating (Brugm. Gr. i. 173). L. Meyer divides “μογο-στόκ-ος” and explains pang-staying (root stak, a secondary of sta?). Εἰλείθυιαι (plur. here and 19.119 only; sing. 16.187, 19.103, Od. 19.188), according to the old explanation ‘the comers,’ i.e. the goddesses that come in the hour of need; compare the forms “Ἐλευθώ, Εἰλύθυια, Εἰλύθεια”. Fäsi explains it as a personification of ‘the woman's time that is come,’ comparing John xvi. 21 “ἦλθεν ἡ ὥρα αὐτῆς”. Schulze has a full discussion of the word in Q. E. 259 ff. He also derives from the same root, but in a causal sense, they that make the child come forth. Fick connects with “ἐλεύθερος” the goddesses that liberate from pangs.
