δύναμαι

Ancient Greek

Alternative forms

νῠ́νᾰμαι (nŭ́nămai) — Cretan

Etymology

From Proto-Hellenic *dunamai, from a nasal-infixed form of Proto-Indo-European *dewh₂- (“to fit together”).^[1]

Pronunciation

(5^th BCE Attic) IPA^(key): /dý.na.mai̯/
(1^st CE Egyptian) IPA^(key): /ˈdy.na.mɛ/
(4^th CE Koine) IPA^(key): /ˈðy.na.mɛ/
(10^th CE Byzantine) IPA^(key): /ˈðy.na.me/
(15^th CE Constantinopolitan) IPA^(key): /ˈði.na.me/

Verb

δῠ́νᾰμαι • (dŭ́nămai); deponent

(with infinitive) to be able, capable, strong enough to do, can
- 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Iliad 1.393
- 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Iliad 20.360
- 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Odyssey 4.237
- 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Odyssey 1.276
- 460 BCE – 420 BCE, Herodotus, Histories 9.9
- 458 BCE, Aeschylus, The Eumenides 950
- 470 BCE, Aeschylus, The Suppliants 1036
- 408 BCE, Euripides, Orestes 889
- 460 BCE – 395 BCE, Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War 6.39
- 460 BCE – 420 BCE, Herodotus, Histories 7.5
- 440 BCE – 390 BCE, Andocides, Collected Works 32.31
- 460 BCE – 395 BCE, Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War 4.105
- 445 BCE – 380 BCE, Lysias, Collected Works 107.26
1. (of moral possibility) to be able, to dare, to bear to do
  - 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Odyssey 1.250
  - 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Odyssey 13.331, (compare Sophocles, Antigone 455)
  - 460 BCE – 395 BCE, Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War 1.130
2. (with ὡς (hōs) and a superlative) as much as one can
  - 460 BCE – 395 BCE, Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War 7.50
  - 380 BCE, Plato, The Republic 367B
  - 385 BCE – 380 BCE, Plato, Symposium 214C
  - 384 BCE – 322 BCE, Demosthenes, Against Aphobus 1 3
  - 430 BCE – 354 BCE, Xenophon, Anabasis 2.6.2
  - 430 BCE – 354 BCE, Xenophon, Hellenica 2.2.9
to pass for
1. (of money) to be worth
  - 430 BCE – 354 BCE, Xenophon, Anabasis 1.5.6
  - 125 CE – 200 CE, Lucian, On Funerals 10
2. (of numbers) to be equivalent, to equal
  - 460 BCE – 420 BCE, Herodotus, Histories 2.142
  - 460 BCE – 395 BCE, Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War 6.40
3. (of words) to signify, mean
  - 460 BCE – 420 BCE, Herodotus, Histories 4.110.1
  - 460 BCE – 420 BCE, Herodotus, Histories 6.86.3
  - 446 BCE – 386 BCE, Aristophanes, Fragments 553
  - 460 BCE – 395 BCE, Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War 7.58
  - 384 BCE – 322 BCE, Aristotle, Politics 5.11.6
  - 431 BCE, Euripides, Medea 128
  - 388 BCE, Aristophanes, Plutus 842
  - 460 BCE – 395 BCE, Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War 6.36
  - 460 BCE – 395 BCE, Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War 1.141
4. (as a mathematical term) to be the root of a square number, to be the side of a square
  - 366 BCE – 348 BCE, Plato, Theaetetus 148B
  - 380 BCE, Plato, The Republic 546B
(impersonal) it is possible, it can be
- 460 BCE – 420 BCE, Herodotus, Histories 7.134
- 460 BCE – 420 BCE, Herodotus, Histories 9.45

Inflection

Present: δῠ́νᾰμαι

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
middle/ passive	indicative	δῠ́νᾰμαι	δῠ́νᾰσαι	δῠ́νᾰται	δῠ́νᾰσθον	δῠ́νᾰσθον	δῠνᾰ́μεθᾰ	δῠ́νᾰσθε	δῠ́νᾰνται
	subjunctive	δῠ́νωμαι	δῠ́νῃ	δῠ́νηται	δῠ́νησθον	δῠ́νησθον	δῠνώμεθᾰ	δῠ́νησθε	δῠ́νωνται
	optative	δῠναίμην	δῠ́ναιο	δῠ́ναιτο	δῠ́ναισθον	δῠναίσθην	δῠναίμεθᾰ	δῠ́ναισθε	δῠ́ναιντο
	imperative		δῠ́νᾰσο	δῠνᾰ́σθω	δῠ́νᾰσθον	δῠνᾰ́σθων		δῠ́νᾰσθε	δῠνᾰ́σθων
						middle/passive
infinitive						δῠ́νᾰσθαι
participle	m					δῠνᾰ́μενος
	f					δῠνᾰμένη
	n					δῠνᾰ́μενον
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Imperfect: ἐδῠνᾰ́μην

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
middle/ passive	indicative	ἐδῠνᾰ́μην	ἐδῠ́νᾰσο	ἐδῠ́νᾰτο	ἐδῠ́νᾰσθον	ἐδῠνᾰ́σθην	ἐδῠνᾰ́μεθᾰ	ἐδῠ́νᾰσθε	ἐδῠ́νᾰντο
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Imperfect: ἠδῠνᾰ́μην

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
middle/ passive	indicative	ἠδῠνᾰ́μην	ἠδῠ́νᾰσο	ἠδῠ́νᾰτο	ἠδῠ́νᾰσθον	ἠδῠνᾰ́σθην	ἠδῠνᾰ́μεθᾰ	ἠδῠ́νᾰσθε	ἠδῠ́νᾰντο
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Imperfect: δῠνᾰ́μην (Epic)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
middle/ passive	indicative	δῠνᾰ́μην	δῠ́νᾰσο	δῠ́νᾰτο	δῠ́νᾰσθον	δῠνᾰ́σθην	δῠνᾰ́με(σ)θᾰ	δῠ́νᾰσθε	δῠ́νᾰντο
Notes:	Dialects other than Attic are not well attested. Some forms are based on conjecture. Use with caution. For more details, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Future: δῠνήσομαι

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
passive	indicative	δῠνήσομαι	δῠνήσῃ	δῠνήσεται	δῠνήσεσθον	δῠνήσεσθον	δῠνησόμεθᾰ	δῠνήσεσθε	δῠνήσονται
passive	optative	δῠνησοίμην	δῠνήσοιο	δῠνήσοιτο	δῠνήσοισθον	δῠνησοίσθην	δῠνησοίμεθᾰ	δῠνήσοισθε	δῠνήσοιντο
							passive
infinitive							δῠνήσεσθαι
participle	m						δῠνησόμενος
	f						δῠνησομένη
	n						δῠνησόμενον
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Future: δῠνηθήσομαι

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
passive	indicative	δῠνηθήσομαι	δῠνηθήσῃ	δῠνηθήσεται	δῠνηθήσεσθον	δῠνηθήσεσθον	δῠνηθησόμεθᾰ	δῠνηθήσεσθε	δῠνηθήσονται
passive	optative	δῠνηθησοίμην	δῠνηθήσοιο	δῠνηθήσοιτο	δῠνηθήσοισθον	δῠνηθησοίσθην	δῠνηθησοίμεθᾰ	δῠνηθήσοισθε	δῠνηθήσοιντο
							passive
infinitive							δῠνηθήσεσθαι
participle	m						δῠνηθησόμενος
	f						δῠνηθησομένη
	n						δῠνηθησόμενον
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Aorist: ἐδῠνησᾰ́μην, ἐδῠνάσθην

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
middle	indicative	ἐδῠνησᾰ́μην	ἐδῠνήσω	ἐδῠνήσᾰτο	ἐδῠνήσᾰσθον	ἐδῠνησᾰ́σθην	ἐδῠνησᾰ́μεθᾰ	ἐδῠνήσᾰσθε	ἐδῠνήσᾰντο
	subjunctive	δῠνήσωμαι	δῠνήσῃ	δῠνήσηται	δῠνήσησθον	δῠνήσησθον	δῠνησώμεθᾰ	δῠνήσησθε	δῠνήσωνται
	optative	δῠνησαίμην	δῠνήσαιο	δῠνήσαιτο	δῠνήσαισθον	δῠνησαίσθην	δῠνησαίμεθᾰ	δῠνήσαισθε	δῠνήσαιντο
	imperative		δῠ́νησαι	δῠνησᾰ́σθω	δῠνήσᾰσθον	δῠνησᾰ́σθων		δῠνήσᾰσθε	δῠνησᾰ́σθων
passive	indicative	ἐδῠνάσθην	ἐδῠνάσθης	ἐδῠνάσθη	ἐδῠνάσθητον	ἐδῠνασθήτην	ἐδῠνάσθημεν	ἐδῠνάσθητε	ἐδῠνάσθησᾰν
	subjunctive	δῠνασθῶ	δῠνασθῇς	δῠνασθῇ	δῠνασθῆτον	δῠνασθῆτον	δῠνασθῶμεν	δῠνασθῆτε	δῠνασθῶσῐ(ν)
	optative	δῠνασθείην	δῠνασθείης	δῠνασθείη	δῠνασθεῖτον / δῠνασθείητον	δῠνασθείτην / δῠνασθειήτην	δῠνασθεῖμεν / δῠνασθείημεν	δῠνασθεῖτε / δῠνασθείητε	δῠνασθεῖεν / δῠνασθείησᾰν
	imperative		δῠνάσθητῐ	δῠνασθήτω	δῠνάσθητον	δῠνασθήτων		δῠνάσθητε	δῠνασθέντων
					middle		passive
infinitive					δῠνήσᾰσθαι		δῠνασθῆναι
participle	m				δῠνησᾰ́μενος		δῠνασθείς
	f				δῠνησᾰμένη		δῠνασθεῖσᾰ
	n				δῠνησᾰ́μενον		δῠνασθέν
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Aorist: ἐδῠνήθην

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
passive	indicative	ἐδῠνήθην	ἐδῠνήθης	ἐδῠνήθη	ἐδῠνήθητον	ἐδῠνηθήτην	ἐδῠνήθημεν	ἐδῠνήθητε	ἐδῠνήθησᾰν
	subjunctive	δῠνηθῶ	δῠνηθῇς	δῠνηθῇ	δῠνηθῆτον	δῠνηθῆτον	δῠνηθῶμεν	δῠνηθῆτε	δῠνηθῶσῐ(ν)
	optative	δῠνηθείην	δῠνηθείης	δῠνηθείη	δῠνηθεῖτον / δῠνηθείητον	δῠνηθείτην / δῠνηθειήτην	δῠνηθεῖμεν / δῠνηθείημεν	δῠνηθεῖτε / δῠνηθείητε	δῠνηθεῖεν / δῠνηθείησᾰν
	imperative		δῠνήθητῐ	δῠνηθήτω	δῠνήθητον	δῠνηθήτων		δῠνήθητε	δῠνηθέντων
							passive
infinitive							δῠνηθῆναι
participle	m						δῠνηθείς
	f						δῠνηθεῖσᾰ
	n						δῠνηθέν
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Aorist: ἠδῠνήθην

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
passive	indicative	ἠδῠνήθην	ἠδῠνήθης	ἠδῠνήθη	ἠδῠνήθητον	ἠδῠνηθήτην	ἠδῠνήθημεν	ἠδῠνήθητε	ἠδῠνήθησᾰν
	subjunctive	δῠνηθῶ	δῠνηθῇς	δῠνηθῇ	δῠνηθῆτον	δῠνηθῆτον	δῠνηθῶμεν	δῠνηθῆτε	δῠνηθῶσῐ(ν)
	optative	δῠνηθείην	δῠνηθείης	δῠνηθείη	δῠνηθεῖτον / δῠνηθείητον	δῠνηθείτην / δῠνηθειήτην	δῠνηθεῖμεν / δῠνηθείημεν	δῠνηθεῖτε / δῠνηθείητε	δῠνηθεῖεν / δῠνηθείησᾰν
	imperative		δῠνήθητῐ	δῠνηθήτω	δῠνήθητον	δῠνηθήτων		δῠνήθητε	δῠνηθέντων
							passive
infinitive							δῠνηθῆναι
participle	m						δῠνηθείς
	f						δῠνηθεῖσᾰ
	n						δῠνηθέν
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Aorist: δῠνησᾰ́μην, δῠνάσθην (Epic)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
middle	indicative	δῠνησᾰ́μην	δῠνήσᾰο	δῠνήσᾰτο	δῠνήσᾰσθον	δῠνησᾰ́σθην	δῠνησᾰ́με(σ)θᾰ	δῠνήσᾰσθε	δῠνήσᾰντο
	subjunctive	δῠνήσωμαι	δῠνήσηαι	δῠνήσηται	δῠνήσησθον	δῠνήσησθον	δῠνησώμε(σ)θᾰ	δῠνήσησθε	δῠνήσωνται
	optative	δῠνησαίμην	δῠνήσαιο	δῠνήσαιτο	δῠνήσαισθον	δῠνησαίσθην	δῠνησαίμε(σ)θᾰ	δῠνήσαισθε	δῠνησαίᾰτο
	imperative		δῠ́νησαι	δῠνησᾰ́σθω	δῠνήσᾰσθον	δῠνησᾰ́σθων		δῠνήσᾰσθε	δῠνησᾰ́σθων
passive	indicative	δῠνάσθην	δῠνάσθης	δῠνάσθη	δῠνάσθητον	δῠνασθήτην	δῠνάσθημεν	δῠνάσθητε	δῠνάσθησᾰν, δῠ́νασθεν
	subjunctive	δῠνασθῶ	δῠνασθῇς	δῠνασθῇ	δῠνασθῆτον	δῠνασθῆτον	δῠνασθῶμεν	δῠνασθῆτε	δῠνασθῶσῐ(ν)
	optative	δῠνασθείην	δῠνασθείης	δῠνασθείη	δῠνασθεῖτον / δῠνασθείητον	δῠνασθείτην / δῠνασθειήτην	δῠνασθεῖμεν / δῠνασθείημεν	δῠνασθεῖτε / δῠνασθείητε	δῠνάσθειεν / δῠνασθείησᾰν
	imperative		δῠνάσθητῐ	δῠνασθήτω	δῠνάσθητον	δῠνασθήτων		δῠνάσθητε	δῠνασθέντων
					middle		passive
infinitive					δῠνήσᾰσθαι		δῠνασθῆναι / δῠνασθήμεναι
participle	m				δῠνησᾰ́μενος		δῠνασθείς
	f				δῠνησᾰμένη		δῠνασθεῖσᾰ
	n				δῠνησᾰ́μενον		δῠνασθέν
Notes:	Dialects other than Attic are not well attested. Some forms are based on conjecture. Use with caution. For more details, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Perfect: δεδῠ́νημαι

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
middle/ passive	indicative	δεδῠ́νημαι	δεδῠ́νησαι	δεδῠ́νηται	δεδῠ́νησθον	δεδῠ́νησθον	δεδῠνήμεθᾰ	δεδῠ́νησθε	δεδῠ́νηνται
	subjunctive	δεδῠνημένος ὦ	δεδῠνημένος ᾖς	δεδῠνημένος ᾖ	δεδῠνημένω ἦτον	δεδῠνημένω ἦτον	δεδῠνημένοι ὦμεν	δεδῠνημένοι ἦτε	δεδῠνημένοι ὦσῐ(ν)
	optative	δεδῠνημένος εἴην	δεδῠνημένος εἴης	δεδῠνημένος εἴη	δεδῠνημένω εἴητον / εἶτον	δεδῠνημένω εἰήτην / εἴτην	δεδῠνημένοι εἴημεν / εἶμεν	δεδῠνημένοι εἴητε / εἶτε	δεδῠνημένοι εἴησᾰν / εἶεν
	imperative		δεδῠ́νησο	δεδῠνήσθω	δεδῠ́νησθον	δεδῠνήσθων		δεδῠ́νησθε	δεδῠνήσθων
						middle/passive
infinitive						δεδῠνῆσθαι
participle	m					δεδῠνημένος
	f					δεδῠνημένη
	n					δεδῠνημένον
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Pluperfect: ἐδεδῠνήμην

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
middle/ passive	indicative	ἐδεδῠνήμην	ἐδεδῠ́νησο	ἐδεδῠ́νητο	ἐδεδῠ́νησθον	ἐδεδῠνήσθην	ἐδεδῠνήμεθᾰ	ἐδεδῠ́νησθε	ἐδεδῠ́νηντο
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Derived terms

δῠ́νᾰμῐς (dŭ́nămĭs, “ability, power, display of power”)
δύνασις (dúnasis)
δυνάστης (dunástēs)
δυνατός (dunatós, “possible”)

References

^ Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010) “δύναμαι”, in Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 10), with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, page 358