(_Sekaryuta_.) Origen also, the oldest of the Christian
commentators, (A. D. 230,) gives the word without the initial
vowel, “_Scariot_.” It is most reasonable therefore to conclude
that the name was originally _Scariot_, and that the _I_ was
prefixed, for the sake of the easier pronunciation of the
two initial consonants; for some languages are so smoothly
constructed, that they do not allow even _S_ to precede a mute,
without a vowel before. Just as the Turks, in taking up the
names of Greek towns, change _Scopia_ into _Iscopia_, &c. The
French too, change the Latin _Spiritus_ into _Esprit_, as do the
Spaniards into _Espiritu_; and similar instances are numerous.
The very learned Matthew Poole, in his Synopsis Criticorum,
(Matthew x. 4,) gives a very full view of the various
interpretations of this name. _Six_ distinct etymologies and
significations of this word have been proposed, most of which
appear so plausible, that it may seem hard to decide on their
comparative probabilities. That which is best justified by
the easy transition from the theme, and by the aptness of the
signification to the circumstances of the person, is the _First_,
proposed by an anonymous author, quoted in the Parallels of
Junius, and adopted by Poole. This is the derivation from the
Syriac