κῆρυξ

Ancient Greek

Alternative forms

  • κᾶρῠξ (kârŭx)Aeolic

Etymology

By the long -ύ- and enlarged -κ-, suggested by Beekes to be a Pre-Greek word, but for Bernal this is from Egyptian qꜣ ḫrw (loud voice), both rejecting the frequent comparison to Sanskrit कारु (kāru, singer, poet).

Pronunciation

 

Noun

κῆρῠξ • (kêrŭxm (genitive κήρῡκος); third declension

  1. herald, pursuivant
  2. public messenger, envoy
    Synonym: ἀπόστολος (apóstolos)
  3. crier, who made proclamation and kept order in assemblies
  4. auctioneer
  5. trumpet shell (Charonia lampas)
    Synonym: στρόμβος (strómbos)
  6. an attendant of kings or chiefs sometimes found discharging the general duties of a slave or servant, particularly in Homer
    Synonym: θεράπων (therápōn)

Declension

Derived terms

Further reading