δάκνω

Forms

δάκνω (dáknō) ^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Indo-European *denḱ- (“to bite”).^[2][3][1] The aorist δακεῖν (dakeîn) matches the Sanskrit present दशति (dáśati, “bites”) in form, and the Sanskrit perfect and nouns show that the root had a nasal, so that Greek /a/ is its zero grade.^[2][4][5] The long vowel of the future δήξομαι (dḗxomai) and the perfect δέδηγμαι (dédēgmai) is a secondary full grade, made after the model of λήψομαι (lḗpsomai) beside λαβεῖν (labeîn).^[2][4][6] The present in -νω is a Greek formation on that zero grade.^[5]

Cognate with Tocharian B tsāk- (“to bite”), Old High German zangar (“biting, sharp”) and Old Norse tǫng (“tongs”).^[2][4]

Ancient grammarians derived it from δήκω (dḗkō), or from καίνω (kaínō, “to kill”) with an intensive prefix.^[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

The verb is first found in the Iliad, already in a figurative use: a speech “bit” Hector's heart, that is, stung him.^[8][9] Homer also uses it literally of biting.^[10]

Semantic evolution

From Homer on it is used of the bites of people, dogs, snakes and insects, and figuratively of whatever stings or hurts the mind: news, events, grief.^[10][5] Classical writers use it of biting one's lip to steady oneself or hold back laughter, of a horse champing at the bit, and of smoke stinging the eyes.^[10] Compounds with prefixes are many, and the verbal adjective gave more than twenty compounds in -δηκτος, such as ἄδηκτος (ádēktos, “not biting, not bitten”).^[5]

In the Septuagint it is used of snakes biting people, in the Book of Numbers, and the New Testament uses it figuratively, together with “devour”, of people who harm one another.^[11][12]

Modern Greek δαγκώνω (dagkóno) goes back to a form built on the aorist ἔδακον (édakon): Babiniotis derives it from δακώνω (dakṓnō), with the /k/ voiced after an inserted nasal, and Triantafyllidis from Hellenistic δαγκάνω (dankánō).^[13][14][15] Medieval vernacular texts use the newer verb for biting, for insects stinging, and in the Pentateuch translation for lending at interest.^[15]

Timeline

• Homer – The Iliad uses it of words that sting the heart.^[8][9]
• Before the 6th century BC – Hesiod's Works and Days uses the aorist.^[8][6]
• 6th–5th century BC – Aeschylus uses it of a horse champing at the bit and of weapons that wound.^[10][6]
• 5th–4th century BC – Aristophanes uses it of smoke stinging the eyes and of biting back one's anger.^[10][6]
• 3rd–2nd century BC – The Septuagint uses it of snakes that bite.^[11]
• 1st century AD – In the Letter to the Galatians it is used figuratively of people who bite and devour one another.^[12]
• Middle Ages – The vernacular form δακώνω (dakṓnō) is used of biting and of insects stinging.^[15]
• Modern Greek – Modern Greek δαγκώνω (dagkóno) is the everyday verb for “bite”.^[14][13]

Meanings

Verb

1. To bite, of people, dogs, snakes; to sting, of insects.^[10][16][5]
2. To bite or nibble a lover's lips.^[10]
3. To champ at the bit, of a newly harnessed foal.^[10]
4. To bite one's lip, to steady one's spirits or keep from laughing; to bite back one's anger.^[10]
5. (figurative) To cause a stinging pain; of smoke, to sting the eyes; passive, to smart.^[10]
6. (intransitive) Of weapons, to wound.^[10]
7. To snap at someone, like a dog.^[10]
8. To afflict, hurt or annoy the mind or heart; passive, to be stung or pained.^[10][12]

Word family

• δάκος (dákos)
• δῆγμα (dêgma)
• ἄδηκτος (ádēktos)

Related words

• Modern Greek δαγκώνω (dagkóno)

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ 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
3. ^ Rix, Helmut, et al. (2001), Lexikon der indogermanischen Verben, 2nd ed., Wiesbaden: Reichert
4. ^ a b c Frisk, Hjalmar (1960–1972), Griechisches etymologisches Wörterbuch, 3 vols, Heidelberg: Carl Winter
5. ^ a b c d e 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. ^ a b c d Rodríguez Adrados, Francisco, et al., eds. (1980–), Diccionario Griego-Español, Madrid: CSIC, http://dge.cchs.csic.es/xdge
7. ^ Etygram: ancient etymologies of Greek words, CEPAM, Université Côte d'Azur, http://appsweb-cepam.unice.fr/etygram
8. ^ a b c Keersmaekers, Alek (2021–2025), GLAUx: The Greek Language Automated corpus, https://github.com/alekkeersmaekers/glaux
9. ^ a b Πάπυρος–Larousse–Britannica, Μέγα Λεξικό της Ελληνικής Γλώσσας, Athens: Πάπυρος
10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Diggle, James, et al., eds. (2021), The Cambridge Greek Lexicon, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
11. ^ a b Lust, Johan; Eynikel, Erik; Hauspie, Katrin (2003), Greek-English Lexicon of the Septuagint, rev. ed., Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft
12. ^ a b c Bauer, Walter; Danker, Frederick W., et al. (2000), A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed., Chicago: University of Chicago Press
13. ^ a b Babiniotis, Georgios (2010), Ετυμολογικό λεξικό της νέας ελληνικής γλώσσας [Etymological Dictionary of Modern Greek], Athens: Κέντρο Λεξικολογίας
14. ^ a b Ινστιτούτο Νεοελληνικών Σπουδών (Ίδρυμα Μανόλη Τριανταφυλλίδη) (1998), Λεξικό της κοινής νεοελληνικής, Thessaloniki: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
15. ^ a b c Kriaras, Emmanuel, Επιτομή του Λεξικού της μεσαιωνικής ελληνικής δημώδους γραμματείας 1100–1669, Κέντρο Ελληνικής Γλώσσας, https://www.greek-language.gr
16. ^ Liddell, Henry George; Scott, Robert; Jones, Henry Stuart (1940), A Greek-English Lexicon, 9th ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press