τορνεύω

Forms

τορνεύω (torneúō); future τορνεύσω, aorist ἐτόρνευσα, middle ἐτορνευσάμην; verbal adjective τορνευτός.^[1][2]

Etymology

A denominative verb in -εύω (-eúō) from τόρνος (tórnos) “lathe, pair of compasses”.^[3][4][5] The noun is an instrument noun with the suffix *-no- from the root of τείρω (teírō) “to rub, wear away”, Proto-Indo-European *terh₁- “to rub, bore, twist”.^[3][6] For the sense of turning round, Beekes compares κυκλοτερής (kuklotérēs) “rounded like a circle”, Plato's phrase “to turn something round” and Latin teres “rounded, smooth” beside Latin terō “to rub”.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

In Euripides' satyr play Cyclops the chorus urges Odysseus' men to turn the burning stake in the Cyclops' eye as a carpenter turns a drill: the verb means “to twist round”.^[2][4]

Semantic evolution

Aristophanes uses it of a poet who “turns” his verses on the lathe, with polish and artifice, and Plutarch keeps this figurative sense.^[2][4] In Plato the god “turns” the universe into a sphere (middle, Timaeus), and Poseidon turns concentric rings of sea and land around the hill of Atlantis (Critias).^[2][4] Theophrastus and Attic inscriptions use it of craftsmen turning rings, bubbles of glass or wooden poles.^[2] John Chrysostom writes of “turning the tongue” to send out speech.^[5]

Latin tornāre “to turn on a lathe” is listed by Saalfeld among the Latin words from this verb, but Etymonline derives it from Latin tornus, the Latin form of τόρνος (tórnos), and it is the source of English turn.^[7][8] Modern Greek τορνεύω (tornévo) is a learned revival meaning “to turn on a lathe”, also of polishing a speech or a text.^[9][5][10]

Timeline

• 5th century BC – Euripides uses it of twisting a stake round like a drill.^[2][4][11]
• 5th–4th century BC – Aristophanes uses it of turning verses, and Plato of the god turning the universe round.^[2][4][11]
• 4th–3rd century BC – Theophrastus uses it of turning rings on the lathe.^[2][11]
• 1st century AD – Josephus has the passive.^[2][11]
• 4th century AD – John Chrysostom writes of “turning the tongue” into speech.^[5]
• Modern Greek – The learned τορνεύω (tornévo) means “to turn on a lathe”.^[9][5]

Meanings

Verb

1. To turn round, twist like a drill.^[2][4]
2. To work on a lathe or with a chisel; to make round by turning; middle, to turn out a round figure.^[2][4][1]
3. (figurative) To round off, polish verses or speech.^[2][4]
4. To draw with compasses.^[1][12]

Word family

• τόρνευμα (tórneuma)
• τορνευτής (torneutḗs)
• τορνευτός (torneutós)
• ἀποτορνεύω (apotorneúō)

Related words

• τόρνος (tórnos)
• τείρω (teírō)
• Latin torno
• English turn

References

1. ^ a b c Korinthios, J. (2025), Grande Dizionario Greco Classico: Greco–Italiano, digital ed., Milan: Hoepli
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Liddell, Henry George; Scott, Robert; Jones, Henry Stuart (1940), A Greek-English Lexicon, 9th ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
3. ^ a b c 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
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Diggle, James, et al., eds. (2021), The Cambridge Greek Lexicon, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
5. ^ a b c d e Πάπυρος–Larousse–Britannica, Μέγα Λεξικό της Ελληνικής Γλώσσας, Athens: Πάπυρος
6. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
7. ^ Saalfeld, Günther Alexander (1874), Index Graecorum vocabulorum in linguam latinam translatorum, Berlin: Weidmann
8. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
9. ^ a b Ινστιτούτο Νεοελληνικών Σπουδών (Ίδρυμα Μανόλη Τριανταφυλλίδη) (1998), Λεξικό της κοινής νεοελληνικής, Thessaloniki: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
10. ^ Ακαδημία Αθηνών (2014), Χρηστικό Λεξικό της Νεοελληνικής Γλώσσας, Athens: Academy of Athens
11. ^ a b c d Rodríguez Adrados, Francisco, et al., eds. (1980–), Diccionario Griego-Español, Madrid: CSIC, http://dge.cchs.csic.es/xdge
12. ^ Malhadas, Daisi; Dezotti, Maria Celeste C.; Neves, Maria Helena de Moura, eds. (2006–2010), Dicionário Grego-Português, São Paulo: Ateliê; digital ed. 3 (2022), UNESP Araraquara