ἀξίωμα

Forms

ἀξῐ́ωμᾰ (axíōma) n (genitive ἀξῐώμᾰτος); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from Ancient Greek ἀξιόω (axióō, “to think worthy, to claim”) with the suffix -μα (-ma), which makes nouns of result.^[1][2] The verb comes from ἄξιος (áxios, “worthy”).^[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

It first appears in the 5th century BC, in Euripides and Thucydides, for an honour, honoured standing or reputation.^[4][5][6]

Semantic evolution

From “what one is thought worthy of” the word meant an honour, then prestige, rank and dignity, the standing of a person or a city in Thucydides and the orators.^[4][5][7] From the related sense of the verb, “to think fit, to claim”, it could also be a decision, as in Sophocles, or a claim or request.^[4][5] The grammarian Ammonius distinguishes it from ἀξία (axíā): ἀξίωμα is outstanding eminence, ἀξία the approval that follows a test.^[8]

In science Aristotle used it for a self-evident principle assumed as the basis of a demonstration, and for an axiom of mathematics; the Stoics, Chrysippus first, used it for a logical proposition.^[4][2] In the Septuagint it is a request or petition, a judicial assessment, and rank;^[9] Zonaras glosses it as “supplication”, quoting the Psalms.^[10] Coptic borrowed it.^[11] Through Latin axiōma and French it reached English in the late 15th century.^[3] Modern Greek αξίωμα (axíoma) keeps both rank or office and axiom.^[12][2]

Timeline

• 5th century BC – Euripides and Thucydides use it for honour, rank and reputation, and Sophocles for a decision.^[4][5][7]
• 4th century BC – Aristotle uses it for a self-evident principle and a mathematical axiom.^[4][2]
• 3rd century BC – Chrysippus uses it for a logical proposition.^[4]
• 3rd–2nd century BC – The Septuagint uses it for a request and a judicial assessment.^[9]
• Late 15th century – English borrows it, through French and Latin, as axiom.^[3]
• Modern Greek – αξίωμα (axíoma) means an office or rank, and an axiom.^[12][2]

Meanings

Noun

1. An honour, something that confers distinction.^[4][5]
2. Honoured standing, reputation, prestige; rank, position; of things, worth.^[4][5][7]
3. What is thought fit: a decision or decree; a claim.^[4][5]
4. A request, petition.^[4][9]
5. (philosophy, mathematics) A self-evident principle, an axiom; a philosophical doctrine.^[4]
6. (Stoic logic) A proposition.^[4]

Related words

• ἀξιόω (axióō)
• ἄξιος (áxios)
• ἀξία (axíā)
• ἀξιωματικός (axiōmatikós)
• Latin axiōma
• English axiom

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f Babiniotis, Georgios (2010), Ετυμολογικό λεξικό της νέας ελληνικής γλώσσας [Etymological Dictionary of Modern Greek], Athens: Κέντρο Λεξικολογίας
3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Liddell, Henry George; Scott, Robert; Jones, Henry Stuart (1940), A Greek-English Lexicon, 9th ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b c d e f g Diggle, James, et al., eds. (2021), The Cambridge Greek Lexicon, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
6. ^ Keersmaekers, Alek (2021–2025), GLAUx: The Greek Language Automated corpus, https://github.com/alekkeersmaekers/glaux
7. ^ a b c Rodríguez Adrados, Francisco, et al., eds. (1980–), Diccionario Griego-Español, Madrid: CSIC, http://dge.cchs.csic.es/xdge
8. ^ [Ammonius], De adfinium vocabulorum differentia, ed. K. Nickau (Leipzig: Teubner, 1966)
9. ^ a b c Lust, Johan; Eynikel, Erik; Hauspie, Katrin (2003), Greek-English Lexicon of the Septuagint, rev. ed., Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft
10. ^ Pseudo-Zonaras, Lexicon, ed. Johann August Heinrich Tittmann (1808), Iohannis Zonarae Lexicon, Leipzig: Crusius
11. ^ Database and Dictionary of Greek Loanwords in Coptic (DDGLC), Freie Universität Berlin and Universität Leipzig
12. ^ a b Ινστιτούτο Νεοελληνικών Σπουδών (Ίδρυμα Μανόλη Τριανταφυλλίδη) (1998), Λεξικό της κοινής νεοελληνικής, Thessaloniki: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki