ἡγέομαι

Ancient Greek

Alternative forms

ᾱ̔γέομαι (hāgéomai) — Doric
ἡγηλάζω (hēgēlázō) — Epic

Etymology

Beekes prefers to derive the word as an iterative present from Proto-Indo-European *seh₂g- (“to seek out”); cognates include English seek, Latin sagiō (“to perceive keenly”).^[1]

Other theories consider the word as a deponent, intensified form of ᾰ̓́γω (ắgō, “to lead, to guide, to command”), itself from Proto-Indo-European *h₂éǵeti (“to be driving”), in -ομαι with the Indo-European thematic vowel retained.

This etymology is incomplete. You can help Wiktionary by elaborating on the origins of this term. What's the origin of the -ε- portion?

Pronunciation

(5^th BCE Attic) IPA^(key): /hɛː.ɡé.o.mai̯/
(1^st CE Egyptian) IPA^(key): /(h)e̝ˈɡe.o.mɛ/
(4^th CE Koine) IPA^(key): /iˈʝe.o.mɛ/
(10^th CE Byzantine) IPA^(key): /iˈʝe.o.me/
(15^th CE Constantinopolitan) IPA^(key): /iˈʝe.o.me/

Verb

ἡγέομαι • (hēgéomai)

to go before, precede; to lead the way, guide
- 408 BCE, Euripides, The Phoenician Women 834
- 460 BCE – 420 BCE, Herodotus, Histories 2.93
- 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Iliad 20.144
- 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Iliad 24.96
- 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Odyssey 1.125
- 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Odyssey 6.300
- 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Odyssey 13.65
- 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Odyssey 14.48
- 430 BCE – 354 BCE, Xenophon, Anabasis 2.4.5
to lead (dative) in (genitive)
- 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Odyssey 23.134
- 522 BCE – 443 BCE, Pindar, Nemean Ode 5.25
- 522 BCE – 443 BCE, Pindar, Pythian Ode 4.248
- 428 BCE – 347 BCE, Plato, Alc. 1.125d
- 380 BCE, Plato, Euthydemus 281a
- 428 BCE – 347 BCE, Plato, Laws 730c
- 386 BCE – 367 BCE, Plato, Meno 97c
- 430 BCE – 354 BCE, Xenophon, Cyropaedia 8.7.1
- 430 BCE – 354 BCE, Xenophon, Memorabilia 2.3.15
(with accusative) to be leader (in a thing)
- 361 BCE, Demosthenes, Against Midias 174
- 423 BCE, Euripides, The Suppliants 226
- 409 BCE, Sophocles, Philoctetes 99
to lead, command in war
- 405 BCE, Euripides, The Bacchae 1360
- 480 BCE – 406 BCE, Euripides, Fragments 282.24
- 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Iliad 2.687
- 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Iliad 2.864
- 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Iliad 5.211
- 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Iliad 16.169
- 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Odyssey 14.238
- 436 BCE – 338 BCE, Isocrates, To Nicocles 567
- 436 BCE – 338 BCE, Isocrates, Evagoras 45
- 436 BCE – 338 BCE, Isocrates, Panathenaicus 101
- 436 BCE – 338 BCE, Isocrates, Panathenaicus 180
- 436 BCE – 338 BCE, Isocrates, Antidosis 311
- 436 BCE – 338 BCE, Isocrates, On the Team of Horses 21
- 460 BCE – 395 BCE, Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War 2.10
- 430 BCE – 354 BCE, Xenophon, Anabasis 5.2.6
1. to rule, to have dominion
  - 458 BCE, Aeschylus, Agamemnon 1363
  - 460 BCE – 420 BCE, Herodotus, Histories 1.95
  - 460 BCE – 420 BCE, Herodotus, Histories 7.148
  - 460 BCE – 420 BCE, Herodotus, Histories 9.1
  - New Testament, Acts of the Apostles 15:22
  - 110 BCE – 35 BCE, Philodemus, Index Academicorum 107
  - 409 BCE, Sophocles, Philoctetes 386
(post-Homeric) to believe, hold
- 423 BCE, Aristophanes, The Clouds 1020
- 460 BCE – 420 BCE, Herodotus, Histories 1.126
- 406 BCE, Sophocles, Oedipus at Colonus 278
- 460 BCE – 395 BCE, Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War 2.89
1. to hold, regard (as something)
  - 458 BCE, Aeschylus, The Libation Bearers 902
  - 525 BCE – 455 BCE, Aeschylus, Prometheus Bound 1035
  - 330 BCE, Demosthenes, On the Crown 164
  - 431 BCE, Euripides, Medea 454
  - 460 BCE – 420 BCE, Herodotus, Histories 2.115
  - 460 BCE – 420 BCE, Herodotus, Histories 6.52
  - 436 BCE – 338 BCE, Isocrates, Aegineticus 10
  - 445 BCE – 380 BCE, Lysias, On the Olive Stump 26
  - 442 BCE, Sophocles, Antigone 1167
  - 409 BCE, Sophocles, Philoctetes 108
  - 409 BCE, Sophocles, Philoctetes 1442
  - 460 BCE – 395 BCE, Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War 4.10

Inflection

Present: ἡγέομαι (Uncontracted)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
middle/ passive	indicative	ἡγέομαι	ἡγέῃ / ἡγέει	ἡγέεται	ἡγέεσθον	ἡγέεσθον	ἡγεόμεθᾰ	ἡγέεσθε	ἡγέονται
	subjunctive	ἡγέωμαι	ἡγέῃ	ἡγέηται	ἡγέησθον	ἡγέησθον	ἡγεώμεθᾰ	ἡγέησθε	ἡγέωνται
	optative	ἡγεοίμην	ἡγέοιο	ἡγέοιτο	ἡγέοισθον	ἡγεοίσθην	ἡγεοίμεθᾰ	ἡγέοισθε	ἡγέοιντο
	imperative		ἡγέου	ἡγεέσθω	ἡγέεσθον	ἡγεέσθων		ἡγέεσθε	ἡγεέσθων
						middle/passive
infinitive						ἡγέεσθαι
participle	m					ἡγεόμενος
	f					ἡγεομένη
	n					ἡγεόμενον
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Present: ἡγοῦμαι (Contracted)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
middle/ passive	indicative	ἡγοῦμαι	ἡγεῖ, ἡγῇ	ἡγεῖται	ἡγεῖσθον	ἡγεῖσθον	ἡγούμεθᾰ	ἡγεῖσθε	ἡγοῦνται
	subjunctive	ἡγῶμαι	ἡγῇ	ἡγῆται	ἡγῆσθον	ἡγῆσθον	ἡγώμεθᾰ	ἡγῆσθε	ἡγῶνται
	optative	ἡγοίμην	ἡγοῖο	ἡγοῖτο	ἡγοῖσθον	ἡγοίσθην	ἡγοίμεθᾰ	ἡγοῖσθε	ἡγοῖντο
	imperative		ἡγοῦ	ἡγείσθω	ἡγεῖσθον	ἡγείσθων		ἡγεῖσθε	ἡγείσθων
						middle/passive
infinitive						ἡγεῖσθαι
participle	m					ἡγούμενος
	f					ἡγουμένη
	n					ἡγούμενον
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Imperfect: ἡγεόμην (Uncontracted)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
middle/ passive	indicative	ἡγεόμην	ἡγέου	ἡγέετο	ἡγέεσθον	ἡγεέσθην	ἡγεόμεθᾰ	ἡγέεσθε	ἡγέοντο
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Imperfect: ἡγούμην (Contracted)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
middle/ passive	indicative	ἡγούμην	ἡγοῦ	ἡγεῖτο	ἡγεῖσθον	ἡγείσθην	ἡγούμεθᾰ	ἡγεῖσθε	ἡγοῦντο
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Future: ἡγήσομαι, ἡγηθήσομαι

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
middle	indicative	ἡγήσομαι	ἡγήσῃ / ἡγήσει	ἡγήσεται	ἡγήσεσθον	ἡγήσεσθον	ἡγησόμεθᾰ	ἡγήσεσθε	ἡγήσονται
middle	optative	ἡγησοίμην	ἡγήσοιο	ἡγήσοιτο	ἡγήσοισθον	ἡγησοίσθην	ἡγησοίμεθᾰ	ἡγήσοισθε	ἡγήσοιντο
passive	indicative	ἡγηθήσομαι	ἡγηθήσῃ	ἡγηθήσεται	ἡγηθήσεσθον	ἡγηθήσεσθον	ἡγηθησόμεθᾰ	ἡγηθήσεσθε	ἡγηθήσονται
passive	optative	ἡγηθησοίμην	ἡγηθήσοιο	ἡγηθήσοιτο	ἡγηθήσοισθον	ἡγηθησοίσθην	ἡγηθησοίμεθᾰ	ἡγηθήσοισθε	ἡγηθήσοιντο
					middle		passive
infinitive					ἡγήσεσθαι		ἡγηθήσεσθαι
participle	m				ἡγησόμενος		ἡγηθησόμενος
	f				ἡγησομένη		ἡγηθησομένη
	n				ἡγησόμενον		ἡγηθησόμενον
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Aorist: ἡγησᾰ́μην, ἡγήθην

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
middle	indicative	ἡγησᾰ́μην	ἡγήσω	ἡγήσᾰτο	ἡγήσᾰσθον	ἡγησᾰ́σθην	ἡγησᾰ́μεθᾰ	ἡγήσᾰσθε	ἡγήσᾰντο
	subjunctive	ἡγήσωμαι	ἡγήσῃ	ἡγήσηται	ἡγήσησθον	ἡγήσησθον	ἡγησώμεθᾰ	ἡγήσησθε	ἡγήσωνται
	optative	ἡγησαίμην	ἡγήσαιο	ἡγήσαιτο	ἡγήσαισθον	ἡγησαίσθην	ἡγησαίμεθᾰ	ἡγήσαισθε	ἡγήσαιντο
	imperative		ἥγησαι	ἡγησᾰ́σθω	ἡγήσᾰσθον	ἡγησᾰ́σθων		ἡγήσᾰσθε	ἡγησᾰ́σθων
passive	indicative	ἡγήθην	ἡγήθης	ἡγήθη	ἡγήθητον	ἡγηθήτην	ἡγήθημεν	ἡγήθητε	ἡγήθησᾰν
	subjunctive	ἡγηθῶ	ἡγηθῇς	ἡγηθῇ	ἡγηθῆτον	ἡγηθῆτον	ἡγηθῶμεν	ἡγηθῆτε	ἡγηθῶσῐ(ν)
	optative	ἡγηθείην	ἡγηθείης	ἡγηθείη	ἡγηθεῖτον / ἡγηθείητον	ἡγηθείτην / ἡγηθειήτην	ἡγηθεῖμεν / ἡγηθείημεν	ἡγηθεῖτε / ἡγηθείητε	ἡγηθεῖεν / ἡγηθείησᾰν
	imperative		ἡγήθητῐ	ἡγηθήτω	ἡγήθητον	ἡγηθήτων		ἡγήθητε	ἡγηθέντων
					middle		passive
infinitive					ἡγήσᾰσθαι		ἡγηθῆναι
participle	m				ἡγησᾰ́μενος		ἡγηθείς
	f				ἡγησᾰμένη		ἡγηθεῖσᾰ
	n				ἡγησᾰ́μενον		ἡγηθέν
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Perfect: ἥγημαι

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
middle/ passive	indicative	ἥγημαι	ἥγησαι	ἥγηται	ἥγησθον	ἥγησθον	ἡγήμεθᾰ	ἥγησθε	ἥγηνται
	subjunctive	ἡγημένος ὦ	ἡγημένος ᾖς	ἡγημένος ᾖ	ἡγημένω ἦτον	ἡγημένω ἦτον	ἡγημένοι ὦμεν	ἡγημένοι ἦτε	ἡγημένοι ὦσῐ(ν)
	optative	ἡγημένος εἴην	ἡγημένος εἴης	ἡγημένος εἴη	ἡγημένω εἴητον / εἶτον	ἡγημένω εἰήτην / εἴτην	ἡγημένοι εἴημεν / εἶμεν	ἡγημένοι εἴητε / εἶτε	ἡγημένοι εἴησᾰν / εἶεν
	imperative		ἥγησο	ἡγήσθω	ἥγησθον	ἡγήσθων		ἥγησθε	ἡγήσθων
						middle/passive
infinitive						ἡγῆσθαι
participle	m					ἡγημένος
	f					ἡγημένη
	n					ἡγημένον
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Derived terms

ἀνηγέομαι (anēgéomai)
ἀρχηγός (arkhēgós)
ἀφηγέομαι (aphēgéomai)
εἰσηγέομαι (eisēgéomai)
ἐνηγέομαι (enēgéomai)
ἐξηγέομαι (exēgéomai)
ἐφηγέομαι (ephēgéomai)
ἡγεμών (hēgemṓn)
Ἡγησίνους (Hēgēsínous)
Ἡγήσιππος (Hēgḗsippos)
Ἡγησιπύλη (Hēgēsipúlē)
ἥγησις (hḗgēsis)
ἡγήτωρ (hēgḗtōr)
καθηγέομαι (kathēgéomai)
παρηγέομαι (parēgéomai)
περιηγέομαι (periēgéomai)
προηγέομαι (proēgéomai)
σκυλακαγέτις (skulakagétis)
συνηγέομαι (sunēgéomai)
ὑφηγέομαι (huphēgéomai)
χορηγός (khorēgós)

Related terms

ἡγεσία (hēgesía)
ἡγέτης (hēgétēs)
ἥγημα (hḗgēma)
ἡγητέον (hēgētéon)
ἡγητήρ (hēgētḗr)
ἡγητής (hēgētḗs)
ἡγητικός (hēgētikós)

References

^ Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010) “ἡγέομαι”, in Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 10), with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, pages 508-9