ἐλεέω

Ancient Greek

Etymology

From ἔλεος (éleos, “mercy”) +‎ -έω (-éō).

Pronunciation

(5^th BCE Attic) IPA^(key): /e.le.é.ɔː/
(1^st CE Egyptian) IPA^(key): /e.leˈe.o/
(4^th CE Koine) IPA^(key): /e.leˈe.o/
(10^th CE Byzantine) IPA^(key): /e.leˈe.o/
(15^th CE Constantinopolitan) IPA^(key): /e.leˈe.o/

Verb

ἐλεέω • (eleéō)

to have pity on, take pity on, show mercy to
- 480 BCE – 411 BCE, Antiphon of Rhamnus, Against the Stepmother for Poisoning 27
- 446 BCE – 386 BCE, Aristophanes, The Acharnians 706
- 421 BCE, Aristophanes, Peace 400
- 384 BCE – 322 BCE, Demosthenes, Against Aphobus 1 53
- 4th century BC, Eubulus, Collected Works 1 D.
- 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Odyssey 14.279
- 400 BCE – 387 BCE, Plato, Apology 34c
- 100 BCE – 1 BCE, Plato, Axiochus 368d
- 380 BCE, Plato, The Republic 336e
- 409 BCE, Sophocles, Philoctetes 501
- 100 CE – 200 CE, Xenophon of Ephesus, Ephesian Tale 5.4

Inflection

Present: ἐλεέω, ἐλεέομαι (Uncontracted)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	ἐλεέω	ἐλεέεις	ἐλεέει	ἐλεέετον	ἐλεέετον	ἐλεέομεν	ἐλεέετε	ἐλεέουσῐ(ν)
	subjunctive	ἐλεέω	ἐλεέῃς	ἐλεέῃ	ἐλεέητον	ἐλεέητον	ἐλεέωμεν	ἐλεέητε	ἐλεέωσῐ(ν)
	optative	ἐλεέοιμῐ	ἐλεέοις	ἐλεέοι	ἐλεέοιτον	ἐλεεοίτην	ἐλεέοιμεν	ἐλεέοιτε	ἐλεέοιεν
	imperative		ἐλέεε	ἐλεεέτω	ἐλεέετον	ἐλεεέτων		ἐλεέετε	ἐλεεόντων
middle/ passive	indicative	ἐλεέομαι	ἐλεέῃ, ἐλεέει	ἐλεέεται	ἐλεέεσθον	ἐλεέεσθον	ἐλεεόμεθᾰ	ἐλεέεσθε	ἐλεέονται
	subjunctive	ἐλεέωμαι	ἐλεέῃ	ἐλεέηται	ἐλεέησθον	ἐλεέησθον	ἐλεεώμεθᾰ	ἐλεέησθε	ἐλεέωνται
	optative	ἐλεεοίμην	ἐλεέοιο	ἐλεέοιτο	ἐλεέοισθον	ἐλεεοίσθην	ἐλεεοίμεθᾰ	ἐλεέοισθε	ἐλεέοιντο
	imperative		ἐλεέου	ἐλεεέσθω	ἐλεέεσθον	ἐλεεέσθων		ἐλεέεσθε	ἐλεεέσθων
		active				middle/passive
infinitive		ἐλεέειν				ἐλεέεσθαι
participle	m	ἐλεέων				ἐλεεόμενος
	f	ἐλεέουσᾰ				ἐλεεομένη
	n	ἐλεέον				ἐλεεόμενον
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Present: ἐλεῶ, ἐλεοῦμαι (Contracted)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	ἐλεῶ	ἐλεεῖς	ἐλεεῖ	ἐλεεῖτον	ἐλεεῖτον	ἐλεοῦμεν	ἐλεεῖτε	ἐλεοῦσῐ(ν)
	subjunctive	ἐλεῶ	ἐλεῇς	ἐλεῇ	ἐλεῆτον	ἐλεῆτον	ἐλεῶμεν	ἐλεῆτε	ἐλεῶσῐ(ν)
	optative	ἐλεοίην, ἐλεοῖμῐ	ἐλεοίης, ἐλεοῖς	ἐλεοίη, ἐλεοῖ	ἐλεοῖτον, ἐλεοίητον	ἐλεοίτην, ἐλεοιήτην	ἐλεοῖμεν, ἐλεοίημεν	ἐλεοῖτε, ἐλεοίητε	ἐλεοῖεν, ἐλεοίησᾰν
	imperative		ἐλέει	ἐλεείτω	ἐλεεῖτον	ἐλεείτων		ἐλεεῖτε	ἐλεούντων
middle/ passive	indicative	ἐλεοῦμαι	ἐλεεῖ, ἐλεῇ	ἐλεεῖται	ἐλεεῖσθον	ἐλεεῖσθον	ἐλεούμεθᾰ	ἐλεεῖσθε	ἐλεοῦνται
	subjunctive	ἐλεῶμαι	ἐλεῇ	ἐλεῆται	ἐλεῆσθον	ἐλεῆσθον	ἐλεώμεθᾰ	ἐλεῆσθε	ἐλεῶνται
	optative	ἐλεοίμην	ἐλεοῖο	ἐλεοῖτο	ἐλεοῖσθον	ἐλεοίσθην	ἐλεοίμεθᾰ	ἐλεοῖσθε	ἐλεοῖντο
	imperative		ἐλεοῦ	ἐλεείσθω	ἐλεεῖσθον	ἐλεείσθων		ἐλεεῖσθε	ἐλεείσθων
		active				middle/passive
infinitive		ἐλεεῖν				ἐλεεῖσθαι
participle	m	ἐλεῶν				ἐλεούμενος
	f	ἐλεοῦσᾰ				ἐλεουμένη
	n	ἐλεοῦν				ἐλεούμενον
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Imperfect: ἠλέεον, ἠλεεόμην (Uncontracted)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	ἠλέεον	ἠλέεες	ἠλέεε(ν)	ἠλεέετον	ἠλεεέτην	ἠλεέομεν	ἠλεέετε	ἠλέεον
middle/ passive	indicative	ἠλεεόμην	ἠλεέου	ἠλεέετο	ἠλεέεσθον	ἠλεεέσθην	ἠλεεόμεθᾰ	ἠλεέεσθε	ἠλεέοντο
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Imperfect: ἠλέουν, ἠλεούμην (Contracted)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	ἠλέουν	ἠλέεις	ἠλέει	ἠλεεῖτον	ἠλεείτην	ἠλεοῦμεν	ἠλεεῖτε	ἠλέουν
middle/ passive	indicative	ἠλεούμην	ἠλεοῦ	ἠλεεῖτο	ἠλεεῖσθον	ἠλεείσθην	ἠλεούμεθᾰ	ἠλεεῖσθε	ἠλεοῦντο
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Future: ἐλεήσω, ἐλεήσομαι, ἐλεηθήσομαι

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	ἐλεήσω	ἐλεήσεις	ἐλεήσει	ἐλεήσετον	ἐλεήσετον	ἐλεήσομεν	ἐλεήσετε	ἐλεήσουσῐ(ν)
active	optative	ἐλεήσοιμῐ	ἐλεήσοις	ἐλεήσοι	ἐλεήσοιτον	ἐλεησοίτην	ἐλεήσοιμεν	ἐλεήσοιτε	ἐλεήσοιεν
middle	indicative	ἐλεήσομαι	ἐλεήσῃ, ἐλεήσει	ἐλεήσεται	ἐλεήσεσθον	ἐλεήσεσθον	ἐλεησόμεθᾰ	ἐλεήσεσθε	ἐλεήσονται
middle	optative	ἐλεησοίμην	ἐλεήσοιο	ἐλεήσοιτο	ἐλεήσοισθον	ἐλεησοίσθην	ἐλεησοίμεθᾰ	ἐλεήσοισθε	ἐλεήσοιντο
passive	indicative	ἐλεηθήσομαι	ἐλεηθήσῃ	ἐλεηθήσεται	ἐλεηθήσεσθον	ἐλεηθήσεσθον	ἐλεηθησόμεθᾰ	ἐλεηθήσεσθε	ἐλεηθήσονται
passive	optative	ἐλεηθησοίμην	ἐλεηθήσοιο	ἐλεηθήσοιτο	ἐλεηθήσοισθον	ἐλεηθησοίσθην	ἐλεηθησοίμεθᾰ	ἐλεηθήσοισθε	ἐλεηθήσοιντο
		active			middle		passive
infinitive		ἐλεήσειν			ἐλεήσεσθαι		ἐλεηθήσεσθαι
participle	m	ἐλεήσων			ἐλεησόμενος		ἐλεηθησόμενος
	f	ἐλεήσουσᾰ			ἐλεησομένη		ἐλεηθησομένη
	n	ἐλεῆσον			ἐλεησόμενον		ἐλεηθησόμενον
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Aorist: ἠλέησᾰ, ἠλεησᾰ́μην, ἠλεήθην

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	ἠλέησᾰ	ἠλέησᾰς	ἠλέησε(ν)	ἠλεήσᾰτον	ἠλεησᾰ́την	ἠλεήσᾰμεν	ἠλεήσᾰτε	ἠλέησᾰν
	subjunctive	ἐλεήσω	ἐλεήσῃς	ἐλεήσῃ	ἐλεήσητον	ἐλεήσητον	ἐλεήσωμεν	ἐλεήσητε	ἐλεήσωσῐ(ν)
	optative	ἐλεήσαιμῐ	ἐλεήσειᾰς, ἐλεήσαις	ἐλεήσειε(ν), ἐλεήσαι	ἐλεήσαιτον	ἐλεησαίτην	ἐλεήσαιμεν	ἐλεήσαιτε	ἐλεήσειᾰν, ἐλεήσαιεν
	imperative		ἐλέησον	ἐλεησᾰ́τω	ἐλεήσᾰτον	ἐλεησᾰ́των		ἐλεήσᾰτε	ἐλεησᾰ́ντων
middle	indicative	ἠλεησᾰ́μην	ἠλεήσω	ἠλεήσᾰτο	ἠλεήσᾰσθον	ἠλεησᾰ́σθην	ἠλεησᾰ́μεθᾰ	ἠλεήσᾰσθε	ἠλεήσᾰντο
	subjunctive	ἐλεήσωμαι	ἐλεήσῃ	ἐλεήσηται	ἐλεήσησθον	ἐλεήσησθον	ἐλεησώμεθᾰ	ἐλεήσησθε	ἐλεήσωνται
	optative	ἐλεησαίμην	ἐλεήσαιο	ἐλεήσαιτο	ἐλεήσαισθον	ἐλεησαίσθην	ἐλεησαίμεθᾰ	ἐλεήσαισθε	ἐλεήσαιντο
	imperative		ἐλέησαι	ἐλεησᾰ́σθω	ἐλεήσᾰσθον	ἐλεησᾰ́σθων		ἐλεήσᾰσθε	ἐλεησᾰ́σθων
passive	indicative	ἠλεήθην	ἠλεήθης	ἠλεήθη	ἠλεήθητον	ἠλεηθήτην	ἠλεήθημεν	ἠλεήθητε	ἠλεήθησᾰν
	subjunctive	ἐλεηθῶ	ἐλεηθῇς	ἐλεηθῇ	ἐλεηθῆτον	ἐλεηθῆτον	ἐλεηθῶμεν	ἐλεηθῆτε	ἐλεηθῶσῐ(ν)
	optative	ἐλεηθείην	ἐλεηθείης	ἐλεηθείη	ἐλεηθεῖτον, ἐλεηθείητον	ἐλεηθείτην, ἐλεηθειήτην	ἐλεηθεῖμεν, ἐλεηθείημεν	ἐλεηθεῖτε, ἐλεηθείητε	ἐλεηθεῖεν, ἐλεηθείησᾰν
	imperative		ἐλεήθητῐ	ἐλεηθήτω	ἐλεήθητον	ἐλεηθήτων		ἐλεήθητε	ἐλεηθέντων
		active			middle		passive
infinitive		ἐλεῆσαι			ἐλεήσᾰσθαι		ἐλεηθῆναι
participle	m	ἐλεήσᾱς			ἐλεησᾰ́μενος		ἐλεηθείς
	f	ἐλεήσᾱσᾰ			ἐλεησᾰμένη		ἐλεηθεῖσᾰ
	n	ἐλεῆσᾰν			ἐλεησᾰ́μενον		ἐλεηθέν
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Aorist: ἐλέησᾰ, ἐλεησᾰ́μην, ἐλεήθην (Epic)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	ἐλέησᾰ	ἐλέησᾰς	ἐλέησε(ν)	ἐλεήσᾰτον	ἐλεησᾰ́την	ἐλεήσᾰμεν	ἐλεήσᾰτε	ἐλέησᾰν
	subjunctive	ἐλεήσω, ἐλεήσωμῐ	ἐλεήσῃς, ἐλεήσῃσθᾰ	ἐλεήσῃ, ἐλεήσῃσῐ	ἐλεήσητον	ἐλεήσητον	ἐλεήσωμεν	ἐλεήσητε	ἐλεήσωσῐ(ν)
	optative	ἐλεήσαιμῐ	ἐλεήσαις, ἐλεήσαισθᾰ, ἐλεήσειᾰς	ἐλεήσειε(ν), ἐλεήσαι	ἐλεησεῖτον	ἐλεησείτην	ἐλεησεῖμεν	ἐλεησεῖτε	ἐλεησεῖεν
	imperative		ἐλέησον	ἐλεησᾰ́τω	ἐλεήσᾰτον	ἐλεησᾰ́των		ἐλεήσᾰτε	ἐλεησᾰ́ντων
middle	indicative	ἐλεησᾰ́μην	ἐλεήσᾰο	ἐλεήσᾰτο	ἐλεήσᾰσθον	ἐλεησᾰ́σθην	ἐλεησᾰ́με(σ)θᾰ	ἐλεήσᾰσθε	ἐλεήσᾰντο
	subjunctive	ἐλεήσωμαι	ἐλεήσηαι	ἐλεήσηται	ἐλεήσησθον	ἐλεήσησθον	ἐλεησώμε(σ)θᾰ	ἐλεήσησθε	ἐλεήσωνται
	optative	ἐλεησαίμην	ἐλεήσαιο	ἐλεήσαιτο	ἐλεήσαισθον	ἐλεησαίσθην	ἐλεησαίμε(σ)θᾰ	ἐλεήσαισθε	ἐλεησαίᾰτο
	imperative		ἐλέησαι	ἐλεησᾰ́σθω	ἐλεήσᾰσθον	ἐλεησᾰ́σθων		ἐλεήσᾰσθε	ἐλεησᾰ́σθων
passive	indicative	ἐλεήθην	ἐλεήθης	ἐλεήθη	ἐλεήθητον	ἐλεηθήτην	ἐλεήθημεν	ἐλεήθητε	ἐλεήθησᾰν, ἐλέηθεν
	subjunctive	ἐλεηθῶ	ἐλεηθῇς	ἐλεηθῇ	ἐλεηθῆτον	ἐλεηθῆτον	ἐλεηθῶμεν	ἐλεηθῆτε	ἐλεηθῶσῐ(ν)
	optative	ἐλεηθείην	ἐλεηθείης	ἐλεηθείη	ἐλεηθεῖτον, ἐλεηθείητον	ἐλεηθείτην, ἐλεηθειήτην	ἐλεηθεῖμεν, ἐλεηθείημεν	ἐλεηθεῖτε, ἐλεηθείητε	ἐλεήθειεν, ἐλεηθείησᾰν
	imperative		ἐλεήθητῐ	ἐλεηθήτω	ἐλεήθητον	ἐλεηθήτων		ἐλεήθητε	ἐλεηθέντων
		active			middle		passive
infinitive		ἐλεῆσαι/ἐλεησᾰ́μεν/ἐλεησᾰμέναι			ἐλεήσᾰσθαι		ἐλεηθῆναι/ἐλεηθήμεναι
participle	m	ἐλεήσᾱς			ἐλεησᾰ́μενος		ἐλεηθείς
	f	ἐλεήσᾱσᾰ			ἐλεησᾰμένη		ἐλεηθεῖσᾰ
	n	ἐλεῆσᾰν			ἐλεησᾰ́μενον		ἐλεηθέν
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: ἠλέημαι

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
middle/ passive	indicative	ἠλέημαι	ἠλέησαι	ἠλέηται	ἠλέησθον	ἠλέησθον	ἠλεήμεθᾰ	ἠλέησθε	ἠλέηνται
	subjunctive	ἠλεημένος ὦ	ἠλεημένος ᾖς	ἠλεημένος ᾖ	ἠλεημένω ἦτον	ἠλεημένω ἦτον	ἠλεημένοι ὦμεν	ἠλεημένοι ἦτε	ἠλεημένοι ὦσῐ(ν)
	optative	ἠλεημένος εἴην	ἠλεημένος εἴης	ἠλεημένος εἴη	ἠλεημένω εἴητον/εἶτον	ἠλεημένω εἰήτην/εἴτην	ἠλεημένοι εἴημεν/εἶμεν	ἠλεημένοι εἴητε/εἶτε	ἠλεημένοι εἴησᾰν/εἶεν
	imperative		ἠλέησο	ἠλεήσθω	ἠλέησθον	ἠλεήσθων		ἠλέησθε	ἠλεήσθων
						middle/passive
infinitive						ἠλεῆσθαι
participle	m					ἠλεημένος
	f					ἠλεημένη
	n					ἠλεημένον
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Derived terms

ἐλεήμων (eleḗmōn)
ἐλεητός (eleētós)
κατελεέω (kateleéō)

Related terms

ἀνελέητος (aneléētos)
ἐλεητικός (eleētikós)
ἐλεητύς (eleētús)
νηλεής (nēleḗs)

Descendants

See ἐλέησον (eléēson).

References

“ἐλεέω”, in Liddell & Scott (1940) A Greek–English Lexicon, Oxford: Clarendon Press
“ἐλεέω”, in Liddell & Scott (1889) An Intermediate Greek–English Lexicon, New York: Harper & Brothers
“ἐλεέω”, in Autenrieth, Georg (1891) A Homeric Dictionary for Schools and Colleges, New York: Harper and Brothers
ἐλεέω in Bailly, Anatole (1935) Le Grand Bailly: Dictionnaire grec-français, Paris: Hachette
Bauer, Walter et al. (2001) A Greek–English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, Third edition, Chicago: University of Chicago Press
ἐλεέω in Cunliffe, Richard J. (1924) A Lexicon of the Homeric Dialect: Expanded Edition, Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, published 1963
ἐλεέω in the Diccionario Griego–Español en línea (2006–2025)
G1653 in Strong, James (1979) Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance to the Bible