γηθέω

Forms

γηθέω (gēthéō) ^[1] Doric γᾱθέω, perfect γέγᾱθα, and Boeotian pluperfect γεγᾱ́θι.^[2][3] The perfect γέγηθα, with present meaning, is more frequent than the present; tragedy uses only the perfect.^[3][2]

Etymology

It is inherited, but its preform is disputed.^[4][5] Because of Latin gaudeō (“to rejoice”), an older form *γαϝεθέω (*gawethéō) was reconstructed, but the contraction this needs would have been very early and would have had to spread to the perfect, and such a present would be an isolated formation in Indo-European.^[4][6][1] More recently the verb has been compared with Tocharian A kātk- (“to be glad”) and Tocharian B kātk-, from Proto-Indo-European *geh₂dʰ-sk-, which gives a root *geh₂dʰ- (“to be filled with joy”).^[4][7] Chantraine considers that the present may have been rebuilt on the perfect stem.^[5]

Beekes finds the same root in γαίω (gaíō) and γάνυμαι (gánumai, “to brighten up, rejoice”).^[4] The DGE also relates it to the Latin verb.^[8]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is found from the Iliad on, meaning to rejoice or be glad, often with a participle of what one is glad to see.^[2][3][9]

Semantic evolution

In Homer and the poets it is to be glad at something, with an accusative or a participle, and Semonides uses it of the sea, which seems to smile.^[3] Tragedy uses the perfect γέγηθα as a present, and its participle as an adjective meaning cheerful.^[2][3] Doric poets have γαθέω (gathéō), Pindar the aorist γάθησα, Theocritus γαθεῖ.^[2] A secondary present γήθω (gḗthō) and a middle γήθομαι appear in late poetry.^[2]

Derivatives include γῆθος (gêthos) “joy” and γηθόσυνος (gēthósunos) “joyful”.^[1]

Timeline

• Homer – The Iliad uses it for rejoicing.^[2][9]
• Before the 6th century BC – Hesiod uses the aorist.^[2][9]
• 7th–6th century BC – Semonides uses it of the sea, which looks radiant.^[3][8]
• 6th–5th century BC – Pindar uses the Doric aorist γάθησα.^[2][8]
• 5th century BC – The tragedians use the perfect γέγηθα in a present sense.^[2]
• 4th–3rd century BC – Theocritus uses the Doric present γαθεῖ.^[2][8]
• 3rd century AD – Quintus of Smyrna uses the middle γήθομαι.^[2][8]

Meanings

Verb

1. To rejoice, be glad or happy, at something seen or done.^[2][3]
2. (of things) To look radiant, smile.^[3]
3. (perfect participle, as an adjective) Joyful, cheerful.^[3]

Word family

• γῆθος (gêthos)
• γηθοσύνη (gēthosúnē)
• γηθόσυνος (gēthósunos)
• ἐπιγηθέω (epigēthéō)
• γηθαλέος (gēthaléos)

Related words

• γάνυμαι (gánumai)
• γαίω (gaíō)
• γαῦρος (gaûros)
• γάνος (gános)
• Latin gaudeō

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Liddell, Henry George; Scott, Robert; Jones, Henry Stuart (1940), A Greek-English Lexicon, 9th ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Diggle, James, et al., eds. (2021), The Cambridge Greek Lexicon, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
4. ^ a b c d Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010), Etymological Dictionary of Greek, with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 10, Leiden; Boston: Brill
5. ^ a b Chantraine, Pierre (2009), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue grecque: histoire des mots, new ed. with a supplement (Chroniques d'étymologie grecque 1–10), Paris: Klincksieck
6. ^ Frisk, Hjalmar (1960–1972), Griechisches etymologisches Wörterbuch, 3 vols, Heidelberg: Carl Winter
7. ^ Rix, Helmut, et al. (2001), Lexikon der indogermanischen Verben, 2nd ed., Wiesbaden: Reichert
8. ^ a b c d e Rodríguez Adrados, Francisco, et al., eds. (1980–), Diccionario Griego-Español, Madrid: CSIC, http://dge.cchs.csic.es/xdge
9. ^ a b c Keersmaekers, Alek (2021–2025), GLAUx: The Greek Language Automated corpus, https://github.com/alekkeersmaekers/glaux