ἀξιόω

Forms

ᾰ̓ξῐόω (axióō) ^[1]

Etymology

It is a denominative verb from Ancient Greek ἄξιος (áxios, “worthy”) + -όω (-óō), with the suffix of factitive verbs.^[2][1] The adjective probably comes from ἄγω (ágō) in the sense "to weigh".^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

It first appears in Pindar and Aeschylus.^[3][4] Pindar uses the passive, "to be thought worthy", and Aeschylus has it in the senses "honour someone" (with words) and "dare" (to join battle).^[4][5]

Semantic evolution

The basic sense "think someone worthy" (of a reward or of a punishment) widened to "think fit, expect, demand that" and "think one has a right to".^[5][4] In the orators it means "hold an opinion", and in philosophical language "lay down, maintain".^[5] Its derivatives are ἀξίωμα (axíōma), "estimation, requirement, decree", and ἀξίωσις (axíōsis), "valuation, opinion".^[2]

The Septuagint uses it for "require, entreat" and "pray, beseech",^[6] and in the New Testament it means both "consider worthy" and "request".^[7] The Modern Greek αξιώνω (axióno), "to demand what one is owed", is a medieval form built on ἀξιῶ with the ending -ώνω.^[8]

Timeline

• 6th–5th century BC – Pindar uses the passive "be thought worthy", and Aeschylus has it for honouring someone and for daring to fight.^[4][5][9]
• 5th century BC – Herodotus uses it for expecting or requiring someone to do something.^[5][4][9]
• 5th century BC – Thucydides uses it for claiming the victory and for making a demand.^[5][4][9]
• 5th–4th century BC – Plato uses it for valuing goods at a price.^[5][4][9]
• 4th century BC – Demosthenes uses it for holding an opinion.^[5][9]
• 2nd century BC – Polybius uses it for making a claim.^[5][4][9]
• Modern Greek – The medieval form αξιώνω (axióno) means "to demand one's due".^[8]

Meanings

Verb

1. To think someone worthy of something (a reward or a punishment), or worthy to do something; in the passive, to be thought worthy.^[5][4]
2. To esteem, honour.^[5][4]
3. To value at a certain price.^[5][4]
4. To think fit, expect, require that someone do something.^[5][4] (Septuagint) To entreat, beseech.^[6]
5. To think one has a right to do something; to consent, deign, dare.^[5][4]
6. To think, deem; to hold an opinion; in philosophy, to lay down, maintain.^[5]
7. To make a claim, to demand.^[5][4]

Word family

• ἀξίωμα (axíōma)
• ἀξίωσις (axíōsis)
• ἀξιωτέον (axiōtéon)
• ἀπαξιόω (apaxióō)
• ἀξιωματικός (axiōmatikós)

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ 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
3. ^ Keersmaekers, Alek (2021–2025), GLAUx: The Greek Language Automated corpus, https://github.com/alekkeersmaekers/glaux
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Diggle, James, et al., eds. (2021), The Cambridge Greek Lexicon, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Liddell, Henry George; Scott, Robert; Jones, Henry Stuart (1940), A Greek-English Lexicon, 9th ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ a b Lust, Johan; Eynikel, Erik; Hauspie, Katrin (2003), Greek-English Lexicon of the Septuagint, rev. ed., Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft
7. ^ 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
8. ^ a b Ινστιτούτο Νεοελληνικών Σπουδών (Ίδρυμα Μανόλη Τριανταφυλλίδη) (1998), Λεξικό της κοινής νεοελληνικής, Thessaloniki: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
9. ^ a b c d e f Rodríguez Adrados, Francisco, et al., eds. (1980–), Diccionario Griego-Español, Madrid: CSIC, http://dge.cchs.csic.es/xdge