Etymologically
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ἀλκή

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Pronunciation

  • 5th-century BC Attic: /al.kɛ̌ː/[1]
  • 4th-century AD Koine: /alˈci/[1]
  • 10th-century Byzantine: /alˈci/[1]

Forms

ᾰ̓λκή (alkḗ) f (genitive ᾰ̓λκῆς); first declension[1] Doric ἀλκά (alká).[2] Homer also has the dative ἀλκί (alkí) of an old root noun.[2][3]

Etymology

It comes from the root of ἀλέξω (aléxō, “to ward off”), inherited from Proto-Indo-European *h₂elk- (“to ward off, defend”), with a stem ⟨ἀλκ-⟩ beside the ⟨ἀλεξ-⟩ of the verb, from *h₂lek-s-.[3][4] The same stem is in Homer's dative ἀλκί (alkí), in ἄλκαρ (álkar, “defence”) and in the aorist ἀλαλκεῖν (alalkeîn, “to ward off”).[3]

That verb matches Sanskrit रक्षति (rákṣati, “protects”) exactly, and Wiktionary adds Old English ealgian (“to protect, defend”).[3][1] Pokorny notes that the sense “strength” can be understood from “energetic defence”.[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

In Homer it is the strength a warrior shows in action, often paired with words for might and spirit, and also help or defence against danger: there is “no defence” left.[6][2][7]

Semantic evolution

It remained a poetic word, though Herodotus, Thucydides and later prose writers also use it.[6] The Iliad also personifies it as the goddess Prowess, and Pindar and Bacchylides use the plural for deeds of valour.[2][6] Hesiod and the tragedians use it with a genitive for defence against something, and Aeschylus and Euripides for battle itself.[2][6] In historical prose the phrase “to turn to ἀλκή” means to turn and resist.[6][2]

Its derivative ἄλκιμος (álkimos) “strong, valiant” is already Homeric.[8] Modern Greek αλκή (alkí) is a learned word for bodily strength, taken from the ancient one.[9][8]

Timeline

  • Homer – The Iliad uses it for prowess and for defence.[6][2]
  • Before the 6th century BC – Hesiod uses it of protection against something.[6][2][10]
  • 6th–5th century BC – Pindar uses the plural for feats of valour.[6][2][10]
  • 5th century BC – Herodotus and Thucydides use “to turn to resistance” of troops.[6][2][10]
  • 4th century BC – Aristotle uses it of the courage of those who can defend themselves.[6][10]
  • Modern Greek – It survives as a learned word for physical strength.[9][8]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Strength shown in action; prowess, courage, valour.[6][2]
  2. (in the plural) Deeds of valour.[6][2]
  3. Strength to avert danger; defence, help, protection, also against something.[6][2]
  4. Physical or military strength, might.[2][6]
  5. Fighting, battle.[2]
  6. Fighting in self-defence, resistance.[2][6]

Word family

  • ἀλκαῖος (alkaîos)
  • ἀλκήεις (alkḗeis)
  • ἄλκιμος (álkimos)
  • ἀλκίφρων (alkíphrōn)
  • ἀλκτήρ (alktḗr)
  • ἄναλκις (ánalkis)
  • γυιαλκής (guialkḗs)
  • ἐπαλκής (epalkḗs)
  • ἑτεραλκής (heteralkḗs)
  • κερεαλκής (kerealkḗs)
  • παναλκής (panalkḗs)
  • ὑπεραλκής (huperalkḗs)
  • ἀλκηστής (alkēstḗs)
  • ἀλκιμόβριθος (alkimóbrithos)
  • ἀλέξω (aléxō)
  • ἄλκαρ (álkar)

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 Diggle, James, et al., eds. (2021), The Cambridge Greek Lexicon, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
  3. ^ 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
  4. ^ Rix, Helmut, et al. (2001), Lexikon der indogermanischen Verben, 2nd ed., Wiesbaden: Reichert
  5. ^ Pokorny, Julius (1959), Indogermanisches etymologisches Wörterbuch, Bern; Munich: Francke
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Liddell, Henry George; Scott, Robert; Jones, Henry Stuart (1940), A Greek-English Lexicon, 9th ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ Cunliffe, Richard John (1924), A Lexicon of the Homeric Dialect, London: Blackie and Son
  8. ^ a b c Babiniotis, Georgios (2010), Ετυμολογικό λεξικό της νέας ελληνικής γλώσσας [Etymological Dictionary of Modern Greek], Athens: Κέντρο Λεξικολογίας
  9. ^ a b Ινστιτούτο Νεοελληνικών Σπουδών (Ίδρυμα Μανόλη Τριανταφυλλίδη) (1998), Λεξικό της κοινής νεοελληνικής, Thessaloniki: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
  10. ^ a b c d Rodríguez Adrados, Francisco, et al., eds. (1980–), Diccionario Griego-Español, Madrid: CSIC, http://dge.cchs.csic.es/xdge