δράω

Forms

δρᾱ́ω (drā́ō) ^[1]

Etymology

The origin is uncertain.^[2][1] The root was δρᾱ- (drā-) if δραίνω (draínō) is a later formation.^[2] The LIV lists a doubtful root Proto-Indo-European *dreh₂- (“to do”) for it.^[3] The DGE derives it from *dr-eh₂- and compares Lithuanian daraũ, darýti (“to do, make”) and Latvian darīt (“to do”).^[4] Beekes and Frisk call that link quite uncertain, since the Lithuanian verb may rather belong with Sanskrit धर्म (dhárma) and a root meaning “to hold”.^[2][5][1] Beekes adds that “to do” in general is a late abstraction, which is why the words for it differ so much from language to language.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The verb first appears in the Odyssey, where the disguised Odysseus says he would quickly “do” whatever the suitors wanted, which a scholiast took as “serve”.^[6][7]

Semantic evolution

It remained rare in Homer, and Attic prose used πράσσω (prā́ssō) and ποιέω (poiéō) for “to do”.^[2][5] Aristotle reports the view that it was the Doric verb corresponding to Attic πράττειν, and that “drama” got its name from it.^[6] Tragedy uses it often, especially set against πάσχω (páskhō, “to suffer”), as in the old saying “the doer must suffer”.^[6][8]

Its derivatives include δρᾶμα (drâma), “action, spectacle, drama”, from Aeschylus on, δραστήριος (drastḗrios) “active” and the servant name δρηστήρ (drēstḗr).^[2] Later it could mean to perform sacred rites, and the passive participle τὰ δρώμενα named the rites themselves.^[6] The Septuagint and early Christian writers still use it for “do, accomplish”.^[9][10]

Timeline

• Homer – The Odyssey has the optative δρώοιμι, “I would do”.^[7][6]
• 6th century BC – Theognis uses it for acting, opposed to suffering.^[8][4]
• 6th–5th century BC – Aeschylus quotes the old saying that the doer must suffer.^[6][4]
• 4th century BC – Aristotle notes it as the Doric word for “to do”.^[6][4]
• 2nd century AD – Pausanias uses it of performing sacred rites.^[6][4]

Meanings

Verb

1. To do, perform, accomplish something.^[8][6]
2. To do something to someone, to treat someone well or badly.^[8][6]
3. (intransitive) To act, often opposed to suffering.^[8][6]
4. (participle) The doer, the culprit.^[8][6]
5. To offer sacrifice or perform rites.^[6]

Word family

• δρᾶμα (drâma)
• δρᾶσις (drâsis)
• δραστήριος (drastḗrios)
• δραστικός (drāstikós)
• ἀδρανής (adranḗs)

Related words

• English drama

Usage notes

LSJ records a second δράω, meaning “to see”, in Apollonius Dyscolus and the Etymologicum Magnum.^[6] Beekes regards it as a form invented by grammarians to explain ὑπόδρα (hupódra) “looking askance”.^[2]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g 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 d e Rodríguez Adrados, Francisco, et al., eds. (1980–), Diccionario Griego-Español, Madrid: CSIC, http://dge.cchs.csic.es/xdge
5. ^ a b Frisk, Hjalmar (1960–1972), Griechisches etymologisches Wörterbuch, 3 vols, Heidelberg: Carl Winter
6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Liddell, Henry George; Scott, Robert; Jones, Henry Stuart (1940), A Greek-English Lexicon, 9th ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ a b Cunliffe, Richard John (1924), A Lexicon of the Homeric Dialect, London: Blackie and Son
8. ^ a b c d e f Diggle, James, et al., eds. (2021), The Cambridge Greek Lexicon, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
9. ^ 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
10. ^ Lust, Johan; Eynikel, Erik; Hauspie, Katrin (2003), Greek-English Lexicon of the Septuagint, rev. ed., Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft