μάντις Ancient Greek · revision 15476

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=derivation|attested=Homer, Iliad|origins=ine-pro *men-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

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

+ * IPA (10th-century Byzantine): /ˈman.tis/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''μᾰ́ντῐς''' (mántis) ''m'' (genitive μᾰ́ντεως); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It seems to be derived from [[m|grc|μαίνομαι|tr=maínomai|t=to rage, be inspired]], as in Herodotus' “raving by the god”.^(Beekes 2010) Beekes and Frisk take it most naturally as an original feminine abstract noun like [[m|grc|φάτις|tr=phátis]], but its vowel /a/ would then have to be an analogical zero grade, which makes the etymology a little doubtful.^(Beekes 2010)^(Frisk 1960) As a masculine agent noun in [[m|grc|-τις|tr=-tis]] it is almost isolated; only [[m|grc|μάρπτις|tr=márptis|t=robber]] and [[m|grc|πόρτις|tr=pórtis|t=calf]] are similar.^(Beekes 2010)^(Frisk 1960) Wiktionary sets up [[m|grk-pro|*mə́tis]], [[m|ine-pro|*mń̥tis|t=thought]], from [[ine-pro|*men-|t=to think]], with the nasal restored.^(Wiktionary) Benveniste's reconstruction of an old neuter [[m|grc|*μάντι|tr=*mánti|t=divination]] is rejected by Beekes.^(Beekes 2010)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Homer uses it for a seer: “let us ask some seer, or priest, or interpreter of dreams” (''Iliad'' 1.62), and “prophet of evils” (''Iliad'' 1.106).^(LSJ 1940)^(GLAUx)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A μάντις foretold the future either as the mouthpiece of a god or by interpreting signs; seers went with the Greek armies.^(CGL 2021)^(LSJ 1940) Thucydides distinguishes them from the collectors of oracles, and Aeschylus and Euripides call Apollo and Dionysus seers.^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021) Tragedy uses it figuratively for anyone or anything that predicts, even a terrifying dream, and Plutarch for the Roman augur.^(CGL 2021)

+

+ Its derivatives include [[μαντεῖον|tr=manteîon]] “oracle” (''Odyssey'' 12.272) and [[μαντική|tr=mantikḗ]] “the art of divination”.^(Beekes 2010) Theocritus uses it for the praying mantis, Nicander for a plant, and Hesychius for a garden frog that foretold the weather.^(Beekes 2010) English ''mantis'' (1650s) comes from it through Modern Latin.^(Etymonline) The modern form is [[el|μάντης|tr=mántis]].^(Πάπυρος)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Homer – The ''Iliad'' uses it for a seer.^(LSJ 1940)^(GLAUx)

+ * 5th century BC – Thucydides distinguishes seers from oracle-collectors.^(LSJ 1940)^(DGE)

+ * 6th–5th century BC – Aeschylus calls Apollo a seer.^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021)^(DGE)

+ * 3rd century BC – Theocritus uses it for the praying mantis.^(Beekes 2010)^(DGE)

+ * 1st–2nd century AD – Plutarch uses it for a Roman augur.^(CGL 2021)^(DGE)

+ * 1650s – English borrows ''mantis'' for the insect.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|seer]], [[m|en|prophet]], diviner.^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021)

+ # ''(Roman context)'' An [[m|en|augur]].^(CGL 2021)

+ # ''(figurative)'' A predictor, forecaster.^(CGL 2021)

+ # The praying [[m|en|mantis]].^(CGL 2021)^(Beekes 2010)

+ # A plant; a garden frog.^(Beekes 2010)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[ἰατρόμαντις|tr=iatrómantis]]

+ * [[μαντεία|tr=manteíā]]

+ * [[μαντεῖον|tr=manteîon]]

+ * [[μαντεῖος|tr=manteîos]]

+ * [[μαντεύομαι|tr=manteúomai]]

+ * [[οἰωνόμαντις|tr=oiōnómantis]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|mantis]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}