ἀρκέω

Forms

ᾰ̓ρκέω (arkéō) ^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Indo-European *h₂erk- (“to hold, contain, protect”).^[2][1] Cognate with Latin arceō (“to keep off, confine”) and Hittite ḫark- (“to hold, have”), and perhaps with Old Armenian արգել (argel, “obstacle”).^[2][1][3] The DGE takes it as probably a denominative verb from ἄρκος (árkos, “defence”), remade on the sigmatic aorist, but Beekes considers the noun more likely derived from the verb, because it is so rarely found.^[3][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

In Homer it means to ward off: to keep destruction from someone (Iliad 6.16), and of a corselet that protects its wearer (15.529).^[4][5] The Odyssey already has the sense “to be enough”, asking whether Athena will suffice for two men (16.261).^[4]

Semantic evolution

Its first sense, holding off or repelling death and ruin, belongs to epic and tragedy; from it came the senses of defending and helping someone.^[5][6] From Archilochus, Pindar and Herodotus on it also means to be enough or to suffice, and Sophocles, Euripides and Thucydides use it of persons strong or able enough to do something.^[5] The passive came to mean to be satisfied with something, as in Herodotus, Aristotle and the New Testament.^[5][7] The New Testament also has the active in “my grace is sufficient for you” (2 Corinthians 12:9).^[7] Thucydides and Xenophon also use it of things that last.^[5]

Timeline

• Homer – The Iliad uses it for warding off destruction, and the Odyssey for being enough.^[4][5]
• 7th century BC – Archilochus uses it of things being sufficient.^[5][3]
• 5th century BC – Herodotus uses the passive for being satisfied with something.^[5][3]
• 5th century BC – Thucydides uses it of things that last.^[5][3]
• 1st century AD – In the New Testament, “my grace is sufficient for you” (2 Corinthians 12:9).^[7]

Meanings

Verb

1. To ward off, hold off destruction or death from someone.^[5][4]
2. To defend, protect someone.^[5][4]
3. To help, assist; to be useful to someone.^[5]
4. To be strong or able enough to do something; to do enough.^[5]
5. To be enough, suffice.^[5][7]
6. To be satisfied with doing something, or, in the passive, content with something.^[5][7]
7. Of things: to last.^[5]

Word family

• ἄρκεσις (árkesis)
• ἀρκετός (arketós)
• ἄρκιος (árkios)
• ἄρκος (árkos)
• αὐτάρκης (autárkēs)
• γυιαρκής (guiarkḗs)
• διαρκέω (diarkéō)
• ἐξαρκέω (exarkéō)
• ποδάρκης (podárkēs)
• ἄρκιον (árkion)
• ἐναρκέω (enarkéō)

Related words

• Latin arceō

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ 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
3. ^ a b c d e Rodríguez Adrados, Francisco, et al., eds. (1980–), Diccionario Griego-Español, Madrid: CSIC, http://dge.cchs.csic.es/xdge
4. ^ a b c d e Cunliffe, Richard John (1924), A Lexicon of the Homeric Dialect, London: Blackie and Son
5. ^ 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
6. ^ Liddell, Henry George; Scott, Robert; Jones, Henry Stuart (1940), A Greek-English Lexicon, 9th ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ a b c d e 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