τέλος Ancient Greek · revision 15471

+ {{infobox|confidence=disputed|formation=inherited|attested=Homer, Iliad|origins=ine-pro *kʷel-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (5th-century BC Attic): /té.los/^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (4th-century AD Koine): /ˈte.los/^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (10th-century Byzantine): /ˈte.los/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''τέλος''' (télos) ''n'' (genitive τέλους or τέλεος); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|grk-pro|*kʷélos]], [[inh|ine-pro|*kʷél-os]].^(Wiktionary) Frisk thought its senses have separate origins, which had already merged before the literary period.^(Frisk 1960)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ * In the sense “end, goal” it may be a “turning point” of the racecourse or the ploughed field, from [[ine-pro|*kʷel-|t=to turn, revolve]], belonging with [[m|grc|πέλομαι|tr=pélomai]] and [[m|grc|τέλομαι|tr=télomai]]; the wide range of this root, as in [[la|colō|t=to till, inhabit]] and [[sa|चरति|tr=cárati|t=moves, performs]], allows other paths too.^(Frisk 1960)^(Wiktionary)

+ * In the sense “tax” it fits [[m|grc|τλῆναι|tr=tlênai|t=to bear]] and [[m|grc|τελαμών|tr=telamṓn]], from [[ine-pro|*telh₂-|t=to bear]], as [[m|grc|φόρος|tr=phóros|t=tribute]] goes with [[m|grc|φέρω|tr=phérō]].^(Frisk 1960)^(Wiktionary)

+ * In the sense “troop” it has been compared with [[sa|कुल|tr=kúla|t=family, herd]] and [[cu|челѧдь|tr=čeljadĭ|t=household]].^(Frisk 1960)

+

+ The Πάπυρος dictionary calls the etymology uncertain.^(Πάπυρος)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In Homer it is the fulfilment of a prayer or a hope (''Odyssey'' 17.496), the completion of an action, and the end: in the ''Iliad'' no end of the war has yet appeared (2.122).^(CGL 2021)^(LSJ 1940)^(GLAUx) The ''Iliad'' also uses it for a division of troops.^(Beekes 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Classical Greek used it for the power of decision of gods and officials, for validity, completion and maturity, the end of life, and the outcome of an action.^(CGL 2021) For Aristotle and the philosophers it was the aim or final cause.^(Wiktionary) It also named the offices of state and initiation into the mysteries.^(Beekes 2010) In Ionic and Attic it is a duty, tax or toll, and the [[τελώνης|tr=telṓnēs]] was the tax-collector.^(Beekes 2010)

+

+ Modern Greek ''τέλος'' “end” continues the ancient word, while ''τέλος'' “tax, duty” is learned.^(Triantafyllidis 1998) English ''teleology'' was coined in Modern Latin in 1728, and ''telos'' is recorded from 1904.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Homer – The ''Iliad'' and the ''Odyssey'' use it for fulfilment, end and a troop.^(CGL 2021)^(Beekes 2010)

+ * 6th century BC – Solon uses it for an outcome.^(CGL 2021)^(DGE)

+ * Classical – Ionic and Attic use it for a tax.^(Beekes 2010)

+ * 4th century BC – Aristotle uses it for the final cause.^(Wiktionary)^(DGE)

+ * 1728 – Modern Latin ''teleologia'' is coined from it.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Fulfilment, accomplishment; the outcome, result.^(CGL 2021)^(LSJ 1940)

+ # Completion; maturity; perfection.^(CGL 2021)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The [[m|en|end]]; the end of life, [[m|en|death]].^(Wiktionary)^(CGL 2021)

+ # An [[m|en|aim]], purpose;^(Wiktionary) ''(philosophy)'' the final cause.^(Wiktionary)

+ # Power of decision; an office, magistracy.^(CGL 2021)^(Beekes 2010)

+ # Initiation into the mysteries.^(Beekes 2010)

+ # A [[m|en|tax]], duty, toll; cost.^(Beekes 2010)^(CGL 2021)

+ # A division of an army, a troop; a squadron.^(Beekes 2010)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[ἀκροτελεύτιον|tr=akroteleútion]]

+ * [[ἀτέλεια|tr=atéleia]]

+ * [[ἀτελής|tr=atelḗs]]

+ * [[αὐτοτελής|tr=autotelḗs]]

+ * [[δημοτελής|tr=dēmotelḗs]]

+ * [[διατελής|tr=diatelḗs]]

+ * [[ἐκτελής|tr=ektelḗs]]

+ * [[ἐντελής|tr=entelḗs]]

+ * [[ἐπιτελής|tr=epitelḗs]]

+ * [[εὐτελής|tr=eutelḗs]]

+ * [[ἡμιτελής|tr=hēmitelḗs]]

+ * [[ἰσοτελής|tr=isotelḗs]]

+ * [[νεοτελής|tr=neotelḗs]]

+ * [[παντελής|tr=pantelḗs]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[κύκλος|tr=kúklos]]

+ * [[πάλαι|tr=pálai]]

+ * [[πάλιν|tr=pálin]]

+ * [[πέλω|tr=pélō]]

+ * [[πόλος|tr=pólos]]

+ * [[τέλλω|tr=téllō]]

+ * [[τῆλε|tr=têle]]

+ * [[en|telos]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}