ἀείδω

Ancient Greek

Alternative forms

Etymology

    From Proto-Hellenic *awéidō.

    Pronunciation

     

    Verb

    ἀείδω • (aeídō) (Epic, Tragic, Ionic, Doric)

    1. (ambitransitive) to sing, chant, praise
      • 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Iliad 1.1–2:
        Μῆνιν ἄειδε, θεᾱ́, Πηληϊάδε͜ω Ἀχιλῆος / οὐλομένην, ἣ μῡρί’ Ἀχαιοῖς ἄλγε’ ἔθηκε ...
        Mênin áeide, theā́, Pēlēïáde͜ō Akhilêos / ouloménēn, hḕ mūrí’ Akhaioîs álge’ éthēke ...
        • 1898 translation by Samuel Butler
          Sing, O goddess, the rage of Achilles son of Peleus, that brought countless ills upon the Achaeans.
    2. (ambitransitive) to make various noises: hoot, howl, croak
      • 385 BCE – 380 BCE, Plato, Symposium 223c:
        ἐξεγρέσθαι δὲ πρὸς ἡμέραν ἤδη ἀλεκτρυόνων ᾀδόντων
        exegrésthai dè pròs hēméran ḗdē alektruónōn āidóntōn
        and [Aristodemus] was woken up when it was already nearly day by cocks crowing
    3. (transitive) to celebrate, praise

    Inflection

    Derived terms

    • ἀοιδή (aoidḗ), ᾠδή (ōidḗ, song)
    • ἀοιδός (aoidós), ᾠδός (ōidós, singer)
    • ἀοίδιμος (aoídimos, famous in song)

    Descendants

    • Esperanto: aedo

    References