ἀμοιβή

Forms

ᾰ̓μοιβή (amoibḗ) f (genitive ᾰ̓μοιβῆς); first declension^[1] Corinthian ἀμοιϝά (amoiwá) (inscription), Doric ἀμοιβά (amoibá) (Pindar), Lesbian ἀμοίβα (amoíba) (Sappho).^[2][3]

Etymology

It is a deverbal noun from Ancient Greek ἀμείβω (ameíbō, “to exchange”), formed with the suffix -η (-ē).^[1][4][5] Beekes traces the verb to Proto-Indo-European *h₂meygʷ- (“to change”), perhaps an extension of *h₂mey-, seen in Sanskrit मयते (máyate) and Latin commūnis, though no exact cognate exists; it has been compared with migrō (“to wander”).^[4][6]

The genus name amoeba was made from it in Modern Latin, for the animal's constantly changing shape.^[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is found from the Odyssey on: a gift will bring a worthy return (ἄξιον ἔσται ἀμοιβῆς), the gods are asked for a return for a hecatomb, and the Sun threatens revenge unless he gets compensation for his slaughtered cattle.^[5][2][3]

Semantic evolution

Hesiod and later poets use it of retribution for wrongs, and Theognis of the evil return paid to a benefactor.^[3][2] It is the reward for a favour in Pindar and Euripides, a recompense in Sappho and a reprieve from death in Euripides.^[3] The sense “change, exchange” is old as well: Euripides speaks of a welcome exchange for the darkness below, Herodotus uses it of an answer in conversation, Aristotle of payment for goods, Strabo of barter, Plutarch of the circulation of money, its exchange value and the changing of couriers' vehicles, and Apollonius Dyscolus of a shift of accent.^[3][2]

In the Koine it is frequent in honorary inscriptions for a return of benefits, and the first Letter to Timothy tells children to make a return to their parents, and Spicq notes that the duty to support aged parents was old Greek law and appears in Egyptian papyri.^[8][9] Medieval vernacular Greek kept it as a reward, and Modern Greek αμοιβή (amoiví) is a learned word for a reward, fee or payment.^[10][11]

Timeline

• Homer – The Odyssey uses it of a return for a gift and of compensation for slaughtered cattle.^[5][3]
• Before the 6th century BC – Hesiod uses it of retribution.^[3][12][2]
• 6th century BC – Theognis speaks of an evil return paid to a benefactor.^[2]
• 5th century BC – Herodotus uses it of an answer, and Euripides of a change from darkness.^[3][2]
• 4th century BC – Aristotle uses it of payment for goods.^[3][2]
• 1st–2nd century AD – Plutarch uses it of the circulation of money and of changing couriers' vehicles.^[3][2]
• 1855 – The English word amoeba is first recorded, from a Modern Latin genus name made from it.^[7]
• Modern Greek – The learned word means a reward or payment.^[11]

Meanings

Noun

1. A return, requital: repayment or reward for a favour, a gift or a sacrifice.^[3][2][5]
2. Recompense, compensation (for a loss or for sufferings).^[3][5]
3. Retribution, penalty (for crimes).^[3][2]
4. A reprieve (from death).^[3]
5. Payment, remuneration (for goods).^[3]
6. Change, exchange; of money, circulation, exchange value; a change-over (of couriers' vehicles); (grammar) a shift of accent.^[3][2]
7. An answer, reply.^[3]

Related words

• ἀμοιβαῖος (amoibaîos)
• ἀμοιβός (amoibós)
• ἄμειψις (ámeipsis)
• Latin migrō
• English amoeba

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 Rodríguez Adrados, Francisco, et al., eds. (1980–), Diccionario Griego-Español, Madrid: CSIC, http://dge.cchs.csic.es/xdge
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Diggle, James, et al., eds. (2021), The Cambridge Greek Lexicon, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
4. ^ a b 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
5. ^ a b c d e Cunliffe, Richard John (1924), A Lexicon of the Homeric Dialect, London: Blackie and Son
6. ^ Pokorny, Julius (1959), Indogermanisches etymologisches Wörterbuch, Bern; Munich: Francke
7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
8. ^ 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
9. ^ Spicq, Ceslas (1994), Theological Lexicon of the New Testament, tr. James D. Ernest, 3 vols, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
10. ^ Kriaras, Emmanuel, Επιτομή του Λεξικού της μεσαιωνικής ελληνικής δημώδους γραμματείας 1100–1669, Κέντρο Ελληνικής Γλώσσας, https://www.greek-language.gr
11. ^ a b Ινστιτούτο Νεοελληνικών Σπουδών (Ίδρυμα Μανόλη Τριανταφυλλίδη) (1998), Λεξικό της κοινής νεοελληνικής, Thessaloniki: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
12. ^ Keersmaekers, Alek (2021–2025), GLAUx: The Greek Language Automated corpus, https://github.com/alekkeersmaekers/glaux