ἐπαγωγή

Forms

ἐπᾰγωγή (epagōgḗ) f (genitive ἐπᾰγωγῆς); first declension^[1]

Etymology

It is a noun of action from Ancient Greek ἐπάγω (epágō, “to bring on, lead to”),^[1][2][3] itself ἐπί (epí, “upon, to”) and ἄγω (ágō, “to lead”).^[4] Babiniotis compares ἀγωγή (agōgḗ, “carrying, leading”), the corresponding noun of the simple verb.^[4][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Thucydides is the first to use it, for the bringing in of provisions and for calling in allies from outside to help.^[6][7][8]

Semantic evolution

From “bringing in” the word took several directions: in military writers it is an advance or charge against the enemy (Polybius).^[6][7] Demosthenes uses it for the inducement or enticement of people with hopes.^[6][7] Plato uses it for spells that “bring on” harm, in his Republic and Laws,^[6][7] and in Theophrastus' Characters someone claims that Hecate has put a thing under such a spell.^[6][7]

In Aristotle's logic it became the technical term for induction, the step from particular cases to the universal, set against συλλογισμός (sullogismós), deduction.^[6][7][4] In the Septuagint the word means distress or misfortune, what is “brought upon” someone,^[9] and the ancient lexica gloss it as misfortune, trial or harm.^[10][11][12]

Modern Greek επαγωγή (epagogí) is a learned word: in logic and mathematics it is induction, and in law the calling of witnesses; its use in physics and biology (electrical or magnetic induction) is modelled on French induction.^[13][4]

Timeline

• 5th century BC – Thucydides uses it for bringing in supplies and for calling in allies.^[6][7][14]
• 5th–4th century BC – Plato uses the plural for spells or incantations.^[6][7][14]
• 4th century BC – Demosthenes uses it of enticement, and Aristotle makes it his term for argument by induction.^[6][7][14]
• 4th–3rd century BC – Theophrastus speaks of a spell cast by Hecate.^[6][14]
• 2nd century BC – Polybius uses it for an attack on the enemy.^[6][7][14]
• 3rd–1st century BC – The Septuagint uses it for distress or calamity.^[9]
• 20th century – Modern Greek uses the learned word for induction in logic, physics and biology.^[13]

Meanings

Noun

1. A bringing in or importing, as of supplies.^[6][7]
2. The calling in of others, especially allies, to one's aid.^[6][7]
3. An advance, charge or attack on the enemy.^[6][7]
4. Enticement, inducement.^[6][7]
5. A spell or incantation that brings harm on someone.^[6][7]
6. (logic) Argument by induction, from particulars to the universal.^[6][7]
7. (tactics) A formation in which one wing follows the other.^[6]
8. (Septuagint) Distress, calamity.^[9][10]

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ Bailly, Anatole (2020), Dictionnaire grec-français, Bailly 2020 Hugo Chávez ed., ed. Gérard Gréco et al.
3. ^ Liddell, Henry George; Scott, Robert (1889), An Intermediate Greek-English Lexicon, Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ a b c d Babiniotis, Georgios (2010), Ετυμολογικό λεξικό της νέας ελληνικής γλώσσας [Etymological Dictionary of Modern Greek], Athens: Κέντρο Λεξικολογίας
5. ^ Malhadas, Daisi; Dezotti, Maria Celeste C.; Neves, Maria Helena de Moura, eds. (2006–2010), Dicionário Grego-Português, São Paulo: Ateliê; digital ed. 3 (2022), UNESP Araraquara
6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Liddell, Henry George; Scott, Robert; Jones, Henry Stuart (1940), A Greek-English Lexicon, 9th ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ 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
8. ^ Keersmaekers, Alek (2021–2025), GLAUx: The Greek Language Automated corpus, https://github.com/alekkeersmaekers/glaux
9. ^ a b c Lust, Johan; Eynikel, Erik; Hauspie, Katrin (2003), Greek-English Lexicon of the Septuagint, rev. ed., Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft
10. ^ a b Hesychius of Alexandria, Lexicon, ed. Kurt Latte (Α–Ο, Copenhagen 1953–1966) and Moritz Schmidt (Π–Ω, Jena 1858–1868)
11. ^ Gaisford, Thomas, ed. (1848), Etymologicum Magnum, Oxford: Oxford University Press
12. ^ Lexica Segueriana, in Immanuel Bekker, ed. (1814), Anecdota Graeca I, Berlin: Nauck
13. ^ a b Ινστιτούτο Νεοελληνικών Σπουδών (Ίδρυμα Μανόλη Τριανταφυλλίδη) (1998), Λεξικό της κοινής νεοελληνικής, Thessaloniki: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
14. ^ a b c d e Rodríguez Adrados, Francisco, et al., eds. (1980–), Diccionario Griego-Español, Madrid: CSIC, http://dge.cchs.csic.es/xdge