διαβολή

Forms

δῐᾰβολή (diabolḗ) f (genitive δῐᾰβολῆς); first declension^[1]

Etymology

It is a noun formed from Ancient Greek διαβάλλω (diabállō, “to slander”) + -η (-ē).^[1][2] The verb is δια- (dia-, “through”) with βάλλω (bállō, “to throw”), and the adjective διάβολος (diábolos, “slanderous”) comes from the same verb.^[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

BDAG lists it from Epicharmus and Herodotus on; it means a slander or false accusation.^[3][2]

Semantic evolution

From the 5th century BC it is the usual word for slander and misrepresentation, in Herodotus, Euripides, Thucydides, the orators and Plato, whose Apology speaks of “the slander against me”.^[2][4] It also covered plain accusation and reproach, discredit and bad repute, and suspicion, and Aristotle uses it of the prejudice a speaker creates against someone.^[4][2] Thucydides also uses it for enmity and quarrels.^[4]

In the magical papyri it names a spell that slanders the victim before the Moon goddess Selene.^[5][4] The Septuagint uses it for false accusation and quarrels, and once in Numbers for standing in someone's way.^[6] Hesychius glosses it as abuse, suspicion or supposition.^[7] Modern Greek διαβολή (diavolí) is a learned word for slander.^[8][9]

Timeline

• 5th century BC – Herodotus, Euripides and Thucydides use it for slander and false accusation.^[2][4]
• 5th–4th century BC – Plato's Apology and the orators use it for slander.^[4]
• 4th century BC – Aristotle uses it for prejudice raised against a person.^[2]
• 3rd–1st century BC – The Septuagint uses it for false accusation and enmity.^[6]
• 5th century AD (probably) – Hesychius glosses it as abuse and suspicion.^[7]
• Modern Greek – διαβολή (diavolí) is a learned word for slander.^[8]

Meanings

Noun

1. An accusation; a reproach.^[4]
2. A false accusation, slander, misrepresentation.^[2][4][3]
3. Discredit, bad repute.^[4]
4. Suspicion.^[4][7]
5. Prejudice against someone, created by a speaker.^[2]
6. Enmity, quarrel.^[4][6]
7. (magic) A spell of slander against a person, addressed to Selene.^[5]

Related words

• διαβάλλω (diabállō)
• διάβολος (diábolos)

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 Diggle, James, et al., eds. (2021), The Cambridge Greek Lexicon, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
3. ^ a b 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
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Rodríguez Adrados, Francisco, et al., eds. (1980–), Diccionario Griego-Español, Madrid: CSIC, http://dge.cchs.csic.es/xdge
5. ^ a b Muñoz Delgado, Luis (2001), Léxico de magia y religión en los papiros mágicos griegos, Madrid: CSIC
6. ^ a b c Lust, Johan; Eynikel, Erik; Hauspie, Katrin (2003), Greek-English Lexicon of the Septuagint, rev. ed., Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft
7. ^ a b c Hesychius of Alexandria, Lexicon, ed. Kurt Latte (Α–Ο, Copenhagen 1953–1966) and Moritz Schmidt (Π–Ω, Jena 1858–1868)
8. ^ a b Ινστιτούτο Νεοελληνικών Σπουδών (Ίδρυμα Μανόλη Τριανταφυλλίδη) (1998), Λεξικό της κοινής νεοελληνικής, Thessaloniki: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
9. ^ Ακαδημία Αθηνών (2014), Χρηστικό Λεξικό της Νεοελληνικής Γλώσσας, Athens: Academy of Athens