θνῄσκω

Ancient Greek

Alternative forms

θναίσκω (thnaískō) — Aeolic
θνᾴσκω (thnāískō) — Doric
θνήσκω (thnḗskō)

Etymology

Traditionally compared to Sanskrit अध्वनीत् (á-dhvanī-t, “he disappeared”), ध्वान्त (dhvān-tá-, “dark”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰwenh₂- (“to die”). However, Beekes doubts this, on the basis of the zero-grade forms, which would then be *θυνεῖν, *θύνατος.
LIV² reconstructs Proto-Indo-European *dʰn̥h₂-sḱé-, from Proto-Indo-European *dʰenh₂- (“to set oneself in motion, to take off”), comparing the word with Sanskrit धन्वति (dhánvati, “to flow”), Tocharian A tsnāntär (“to flow”), but the semantic connection is weak.
Others refer to Proto-Indo-European *gʷʰn̥h₂-, from Proto-Indo-European *gʷʰen- (“to kill”), from which come θείνω (theínō, “slay”), φόνος (phónos, “murder”), and φᾰτός (phătós, “slain”).
Cf. also Sanskrit निधन (nidhána, “death”), प्रधन (pradhána, “tearing, bursting; battle”).

In any case, the second part is the inchoative suffix -σκω (-skō).

Pronunciation

(5^th BCE Attic) IPA^(key): /tʰnɛ̌ːi̯s.kɔː/
(1^st CE Egyptian) IPA^(key): /ˈtʰne̝s.ko/
(4^th CE Koine) IPA^(key): /ˈθnis.ko/
(10^th CE Byzantine) IPA^(key): /ˈθnis.ko/
(15^th CE Constantinopolitan) IPA^(key): /ˈθnis.ko/

Verb

θνῄσκω • (thnēískō)

to die; (aorist and perfect) to be dead
- 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Iliad 7.52:
  οὐ γάρ πώ τοι μοῖρα θανεῖν καὶ πότμον ἐπισπεῖν
  ou gár pṓ toi moîra thaneîn kaì pótmon epispeîn
  Nor yet is it thy fate to die and meet thy doom.
(serves as passive of κτείνω (kteínō, “kill”)) to be killed
- 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Iliad 15.289:
  ἦ θήν μιν μάλα ἔλπετο θῡμὸς ἑκάστου
  χερσὶν ὑπ’ Αἴαντος θανέειν Τελαμωνιάδᾱο.
  ê thḗn min mála élpeto thūmòs hekástou
  khersìn hup’ Aíantos thanéein Telamōniádāo.
  Truly the heart of every one [of us] really hoped that [Hector] had been killed at the hands of Ajax son of Telamon.

Usage notes

In the present, the aorist and the future, the compound form ἀποθνῄσκω (apothnēískō) is often substituted.

Inflection

Present: θνῄσκω

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	θνῄσκω	θνῄσκεις	θνῄσκει	θνῄσκετον	θνῄσκετον	θνῄσκομεν	θνῄσκετε	θνῄσκουσῐ(ν)
	subjunctive	θνῄσκω	θνῄσκῃς	θνῄσκῃ	θνῄσκητον	θνῄσκητον	θνῄσκωμεν	θνῄσκητε	θνῄσκωσῐ(ν)
	optative	θνῄσκοιμῐ	θνῄσκοις	θνῄσκοι	θνῄσκοιτον	θνῃσκοίτην	θνῄσκοιμεν	θνῄσκοιτε	θνῄσκοιεν
	imperative		θνῇσκε	θνῃσκέτω	θνῄσκετον	θνῃσκέτων		θνῄσκετε	θνῃσκόντων
		active
infinitive		θνῄσκειν
participle	m	θνῄσκων
	f	θνῄσκουσᾰ
	n	θνῇσκον
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Imperfect: ἔθνῃσκον

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	ἔθνῃσκον	ἔθνῃσκες	ἔθνῃσκε(ν)	ἐθνῄσκετον	ἐθνῃσκέτην	ἐθνῄσκομεν	ἐθνῄσκετε	ἔθνῃσκον
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Future: θᾰνέω, θᾰνέομαι (Uncontracted)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	θᾰνέω	θᾰνέεις	θᾰνέει	θᾰνέετον	θᾰνέετον	θᾰνέομεν	θᾰνέετε	θᾰνέουσῐ(ν)
active	optative	θᾰνέοιμῐ	θᾰνέοις	θᾰνέοι	θᾰνέοιτον	θᾰνεοίτην	θᾰνέοιμεν	θᾰνέοιτε	θᾰνέοιεν
middle	indicative	θᾰνέομαι	θᾰνέῃ, θᾰνέει	θᾰνέεται	θᾰνέεσθον	θᾰνέεσθον	θᾰνεόμεθᾰ	θᾰνέεσθε	θᾰνέονται
middle	optative	θᾰνεοίμην	θᾰνέοιο	θᾰνέοιτο	θᾰνέοισθον	θᾰνεοίσθην	θᾰνεοίμεθᾰ	θᾰνέοισθε	θᾰνέοιντο
		active			middle
infinitive		θᾰνέειν			θᾰνέεσθαι
participle	m	θᾰνέων			θᾰνεόμενος
	f	θᾰνέουσᾰ			θᾰνεομένη
	n	θᾰνέον			θᾰνεόμενον
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Future: θᾰνῶ, θᾰνοῦμαι (Contracted)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	θᾰνῶ	θᾰνεῖς	θᾰνεῖ	θᾰνεῖτον	θᾰνεῖτον	θᾰνοῦμεν	θᾰνεῖτε	θᾰνοῦσῐ(ν)
active	optative	θᾰνοίην, θᾰνοῖμῐ	θᾰνοίης, θᾰνοῖς	θᾰνοίη, θᾰνοῖ	θᾰνοῖτον, θᾰνοίητον	θᾰνοίτην, θᾰνοιήτην	θᾰνοῖμεν, θᾰνοίημεν	θᾰνοῖτε, θᾰνοίητε	θᾰνοῖεν, θᾰνοίησᾰν
middle	indicative	θᾰνοῦμαι	θᾰνῇ	θᾰνεῖται	θᾰνεῖσθον	θᾰνεῖσθον	θᾰνούμεθᾰ	θᾰνεῖσθε	θᾰνοῦνται
middle	optative	θᾰνοίμην	θᾰνοῖο	θᾰνοῖτο	θᾰνοῖσθον	θᾰνοίσθην	θᾰνοίμεθᾰ	θᾰνοῖσθε	θᾰνοῖντο
		active			middle
infinitive		θᾰνεῖν			θᾰνεῖσθαι
participle	m	θᾰνῶν			θᾰνούμενος
	f	θᾰνοῦσᾰ			θᾰνουμένη
	n	θᾰνοῦν			θᾰνούμενον
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Aorist: ἔθᾰνον

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	ἔθᾰνον	ἔθᾰνες	ἔθᾰνε(ν)	ἐθᾰ́νετον	ἐθᾰνέτην	ἐθᾰ́νομεν	ἐθᾰ́νετε	ἔθᾰνον
	subjunctive	θᾰ́νω	θᾰ́νῃς	θᾰ́νῃ	θᾰ́νητον	θᾰ́νητον	θᾰ́νωμεν	θᾰ́νητε	θᾰ́νωσῐ(ν)
	optative	θᾰ́νοιμῐ	θᾰ́νοις	θᾰ́νοι	θᾰ́νοιτον	θᾰνοίτην	θᾰ́νοιμεν	θᾰ́νοιτε	θᾰ́νοιεν
	imperative		θᾰ́νε	θᾰνέτω	θᾰ́νετον	θᾰνέτων		θᾰ́νετε	θᾰνόντων
		active
infinitive		θᾰνεῖν
participle	m	θᾰνών
	f	θᾰνοῦσᾰ
	n	θᾰνόν
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Aorist: θᾰ́νον (Epic)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	θᾰ́νον	θᾰ́νες	θᾰ́νε(ν)	θᾰ́νετον	θᾰνέτην	θᾰ́νομεν	θᾰ́νετε	θᾰ́νον
	subjunctive	θᾰ́νω, θᾰ́νωμῐ	θᾰ́νῃς, θᾰ́νῃσθᾰ	θᾰ́νῃ, θᾰ́νῃσῐ	θᾰ́νητον	θᾰ́νητον	θᾰ́νωμεν	θᾰ́νητε	θᾰ́νωσῐ(ν)
	optative	θᾰ́νοιμῐ	θᾰ́νοις/θᾰ́νοισθᾰ	θᾰ́νοι	θᾰνεῖτον	θᾰνείτην	θᾰνεῖμεν	θᾰνεῖτε	θᾰνεῖεν
	imperative		θᾰ́νε	θᾰνέτω	θᾰ́νετον	θᾰνέτων		θᾰ́νετε	θᾰνόντων
		active
infinitive		θᾰνεῖν/θᾰνέμεν(αι)
participle	m	θᾰνών
	f	θᾰνοῦσᾰ
	n	θᾰνόν
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: τέθνηκᾰ

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	τέθνηκᾰ	τέθνηκᾰς	τέθνηκε(ν)	τεθνήκᾰτον	τεθνήκᾰτον	τεθνήκᾰμεν	τεθνήκᾰτε	τεθνήκᾱσῐ(ν)
	subjunctive	τεθνήκω	τεθνήκῃς	τεθνήκῃ	τεθνήκητον	τεθνήκητον	τεθνήκωμεν	τεθνήκητε	τεθνήκωσῐ(ν)
	optative	τεθνήκοιμῐ, τεθνηκοίην	τεθνήκοις, τεθνηκοίης	τεθνήκοι, τεθνηκοίη	τεθνήκοιτον	τεθνηκοίτην	τεθνήκοιμεν	τεθνήκοιτε	τεθνήκοιεν
	imperative		τέθνηκε	τεθνηκέτω	τεθνήκετον	τεθνηκέτων		τεθνήκετε	τεθνηκόντων
		active
infinitive		τεθνηκέναι
participle	m	τεθνηκώς
	f	τεθνηκυῖᾰ
	n	τεθνηκός
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Perfect: τέθνᾰτον (Epic)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative				τέθνᾰτον	τέθνᾰτον	τέθνᾰμεν	τέθνᾰτε	τεθνᾶσῐ(ν)
	subjunctive	τεθνῶ, τεθνῶμῐ	τεθνῇς, τεθνῇσθᾰ	τεθνῇ, τεθνῇσῐ	τεθνῆτον	τεθνῆτον	τεθνῶμεν	τεθνῆτε	τεθνῶσῐ(ν)
	optative	τεθναίην	τεθναίης	τεθναίη	τεθναῖτον	τεθναίτην	τεθναῖμεν	τεθναῖτε	τεθναῖεν
	imperative		τεθνᾰ́θι	τεθνᾰ́τω	τέθνᾰτον	τεθνᾰ́των		τέθνᾰτε	τεθνᾰ́ντων
		active
infinitive		τεθνᾰ́μεν(αι)
participle	m	τεθνεώς, τεθνηώς
	f	τεθνεῶσᾰ, τεθνηῶσᾰ
	n	τεθνεός, τεθνηός
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.

Pluperfect: ἐτεθνήκειν

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	ἐτεθνήκειν, ἐτεθνήκη	ἐτεθνήκεις, ἐτεθνήκης	ἐτεθνήκει(ν)	ἐτεθνήκετον	ἐτεθνηκέτην	ἐτεθνήκεμεν	ἐτεθνήκετε	ἐτεθνήκεσᾰν
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Pluperfect: ἐτέθνᾰτον

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative				ἐτέθνᾰτον	ἐτεθνᾰ́την	ἐτέθνᾰμεν	ἐτέθνᾰτε	ἐτέθνᾰσᾰν
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Future perfect: τεθνήξω, τεθνήξομαι

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	τεθνήξω	τεθνήξεις	τεθνήξει	τεθνήξετον	τεθνήξετον	τεθνήξομεν	τεθνήξετε	τεθνήξουσῐ(ν)
active	optative	τεθνήξοιμῐ	τεθνήξοις	τεθνήξοι	τεθνήξοιτον	τεθνηξοίτην	τεθνήξοιμεν	τεθνήξοιτε	τεθνήξοιεν
middle/ passive	indicative	τεθνήξομαι	τεθνήξῃ, τεθνήξει	τεθνήξεται	τεθνήξεσθον	τεθνήξεσθον	τεθνηξόμεθᾰ	τεθνήξεσθε	τεθνήξονται
middle/ passive	optative	τεθνηξοίμην	τεθνήξοιο	τεθνήξοιτο	τεθνήξοισθον	τεθνηξοίσθην	τεθνηξοίμεθᾰ	τεθνήξοισθε	τεθνήξοιντο
		active				middle/passive
infinitive		τεθνήξειν				τεθνήξεσθαι
participle	m	τεθνήξων				τεθνηξόμενος
	f	τεθνήξουσᾰ				τεθνηξομένη
	n	τεθνῆξον				τεθνηξόμενον
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Derived terms

ἀμφιθνῄσκω (amphithnēískō)
ἀντιθνῄσκω (antithnēískō)
ἀποθνῄσκω (apothnēískō)
δυσθνῄσκω (dusthnēískō)
ἐκθνῄσκω (ekthnēískō)
ἐνθνῄσκω (enthnēískō)
εὐθνήσιμος (euthnḗsimos)
θανάσιμος (thanásimos)
θάνατος (thánatos)
θνησαῖον (thnēsaîon)
θνησείδιον (thnēseídion)
θνῆσις (thnêsis)
θνητός (thnētós)
καταθνῄσκω (katathnēískō)
περιθνῄσκω (perithnēískō)
προθνῄσκω (prothnēískō)
συνθνῄσκω (sunthnēískō)
ὑπερθνῄσκω (huperthnēískō)

References

“θνῄσκω”, in Liddell & Scott (1940) A Greek–English Lexicon, Oxford: Clarendon Press
θνῄσκω in Bailly, Anatole (1935) Le Grand Bailly: Dictionnaire grec-français, Paris: Hachette
θνῄσκω in Cunliffe, Richard J. (1924) A Lexicon of the Homeric Dialect: Expanded Edition, Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, published 1963
G2348 in Strong, James (1979) Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance to the Bible
Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010) “θάνατος”, in Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 10), volume I, with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, pages 533–4
Rix, Helmut, editor (2001), “*dʰenh₂-”, in Lexikon der indogermanischen Verben [Lexicon of Indo-European Verbs] (in German), 2nd edition, Wiesbaden: Dr. Ludwig Reichert Verlag, →ISBN, pages 144–5
Sihler, Andrew L. (1995) New Comparative Grammar of Greek and Latin, Oxford, New York: Oxford University Press, →ISBN