προγράφω

Forms

προγράφω (prográphō) ^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from Ancient Greek προ- (pro-, “before, forth”) + γράφω (gráphō, “to write”).^[1] The prefix gives both “write first, write above” and “write up in public, post a notice”.^[2]

The Hellenistic sense “proscribe”, of the Roman lists of outlaws, is a semantic loan from Latin prōscrībō.^[3][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Thucydides, in the 5th century BC, uses it of the historian who first sets out the causes of the war: he wrote them first.^[2][4][5] In Aristophanes' Birds it means to post up a notice on tablets.^[2][5]

Semantic evolution

In Classical Athens the verb was an official one: to give public written notice of a trial, to summon the Assembly by notice, to post its agenda, to appoint by public notice, as choregi were appointed.^[2][4] Demosthenes uses it of garrison duty posted up for the citizens, and Theophrastus of a written notice of sale.^[2][4]

Polybius, Strabo, Plutarch and Dio Cassius use it for the Roman proscriptions, the publication of the names of outlaws whose lives and goods were forfeit, as Sulla proscribed his enemies.^[2][4] Plutarch also uses it of a name set at the head of a list, and of the censor naming the leader of the Senate.^[2][4]

In the New Testament it means to write beforehand, in an earlier passage or in the Scriptures, and in Galatians Christ was “publicly portrayed” before the eyes of the readers.^[6][2] The verb was still used in the Middle Ages, and Modern Greek προγράφω (prográfo) is a learned word for carrying out proscriptions.^[7][3]

Timeline

• 5th century BC – Thucydides uses it of writing something first, and Aristophanes of posting a notice.^[2][4]
• 4th century BC – Demosthenes and Aeschines use it of giving public notice of a trial or an Assembly.^[2][4]
• 2nd century BC – Polybius uses it of the Roman proscription of outlaws.^[2][4]
• 1st century AD – The Epistle to the Galatians uses it of Christ publicly portrayed.^[2][6]
• Modern Greek – The learned προγράφω (prográfo) means to proscribe.^[3]

Meanings

Verb

1. To write first or beforehand, or above, earlier in the same document (in the passive participle, aforementioned).^[2][6]
2. To set out as a public notice; to give written notice of a trial, an Assembly or its agenda; to appoint or summon by notice.^[2][4]
3. To give written notice of a sale; to sell by auction.^[2]
4. (of Roman affairs) To proscribe, to publish someone's name in a list of outlaws.^[2][4]
5. To write a name at the head of a list; of the Roman censor, to name someone leader of the Senate.^[2][4]
6. (New Testament) To set forth publicly, to portray openly.^[2][6]

Word family

• πρόγραμμα (prógramma)
• προγραφή (prographḗ)

Related words

• Latin prōscrībō
• Modern Greek προγράφω (prográfo)

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Liddell, Henry George; Scott, Robert; Jones, Henry Stuart (1940), A Greek-English Lexicon, 9th ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
3. ^ a b c Ινστιτούτο Νεοελληνικών Σπουδών (Ίδρυμα Μανόλη Τριανταφυλλίδη) (1998), Λεξικό της κοινής νεοελληνικής, Thessaloniki: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Diggle, James, et al., eds. (2021), The Cambridge Greek Lexicon, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
5. ^ a b Keersmaekers, Alek (2021–2025), GLAUx: The Greek Language Automated corpus, https://github.com/alekkeersmaekers/glaux
6. ^ a b c d 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
7. ^ Kriaras, Emmanuel, Επιτομή του Λεξικού της μεσαιωνικής ελληνικής δημώδους γραμματείας 1100–1669, Κέντρο Ελληνικής Γλώσσας, https://www.greek-language.gr