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ἐχυρός

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Etymology and origin of the Ancient Greek word ἐχυρός

Confidence
Probable
Formation
Derivation
First attested
5th century BC, Thucydides
From
Proto-Indo-European *seǵʰ-
Ultimate origin
Proto-Indo-European *seǵʰ-

Pronunciation

  • 5th-century BC Attic: /e.kʰy.rós/[1]
  • 4th-century AD Koine: /e.çyˈros/[1]
  • 10th-century Byzantine: /e.çyˈros/[1]

Forms

ἐχῠρός (ekhurós) m (feminine ἐχῠρᾱ́, neuter ἐχῠρόν); first/second declension[1]

Etymology

It is an adjective in ⟨-ρός⟩ built on a u-stem of the root of ἔχω (ékhō, “to have, hold”), from Proto-Indo-European *seǵʰ- (“to hold; to overpower”).[2][3][4] A Sanskrit adjective meaning “victorious, strong” is the nearest match, and a u-stem is also found in Germanic, as in Old High German sigu (“victory”); the root's neuter s-stem gave the Germanic and Sanskrit words for “victory, power”.[2][5] The adverb ὄχα (ókha, “by far”) belongs to the same group.[2]

Beside it stands ὀχυρός (okhurós), the usual form in Hesiod, Aeschylus and Euripides.[2][5] Beekes takes the difference of vowel as old ablaut or as the influence of the verb, while Chantraine finds that the related forms do not explain it.[2][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first securely attested in Thucydides, of strong, secure positions and harbours, and of strong arguments and firm hopes; in two passages of Aeschylus' Persians the manuscripts waver between this form and ὀχυρός (okhurós).[6][5][4]

Semantic evolution

Xenophon uses it of a secure stable and of property kept safe, and Isocrates and Demosthenes of strongholds.[4] Polybius normally writes ὀχυρός (okhurós) instead.[6] Plutarch applies it to a man who is proof against temptation.[4][6] Its rare derivatives are ἐχυρότης (ekhurótēs) “firmness”, from Philo on, and the verb ἐχυρόω (ekhuróō) in Photius and the Suda; more important is ἐνέχυρον (enékhuron) “pledge”, formed from the phrase “in a secure place”.[5][2]

Timeline

  • 5th century BC – Thucydides uses it of secure positions and of firm hopes.[6][4][7]
  • 5th–4th century BC – Xenophon uses it of a secure stable and of property in safe keeping.[4][7]
  • 2nd century BC – Polybius normally uses ὀχυρός (okhurós) instead.[6][7]
  • 1st–2nd century AD – Plutarch uses it of a person able to resist temptation.[4][7]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Of places and military positions, strong, secure, impregnable; neuter as a noun, a stronghold.[4][6]
  2. Of a stable or property, secure, safe.[4]
  3. Of a situation, secure; of arguments and hopes, strong, firm; ἐν τῷ ἐχυρῷ (en tôi ekhurôi), in safety.[4][6]
  4. Of an ally, strong, reliable.[4]
  5. Of a person, proof against temptation.[4][6]
  6. Of fighting, perhaps stubborn.[4]

Word family

  • ἐχυρότης (ekhurótēs)
  • ἐνέχυρον (enékhuron)
  • ὀχυρός (okhurós)

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f 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. ^ Wodtko, Dagmar S.; Irslinger, Britta; Schneider, Carolin (2008), Nomina im indogermanischen Lexikon, Heidelberg: Winter
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Diggle, James, et al., eds. (2021), The Cambridge Greek Lexicon, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
  5. ^ a b c d e Chantraine, Pierre (2009), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue grecque: histoire des mots, new ed. with a supplement (Chroniques d'étymologie grecque 1–10), Paris: Klincksieck
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h Liddell, Henry George; Scott, Robert; Jones, Henry Stuart (1940), A Greek-English Lexicon, 9th ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ a b c d Rodríguez Adrados, Francisco, et al., eds. (1980–), Diccionario Griego-Español, Madrid: CSIC, http://dge.cchs.csic.es/xdge

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Ἐχυρός.” Etymologically, 24 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/grc/%E1%BC%90%CF%87%CF%85%CF%81%CF%8C%CF%82. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

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