ὄργανον Ancient Greek · revision 15487

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=5th century BC, Sophocles|origins=ine-pro *werǵ-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (5th-century BC Attic): /ór.ɡa.non/^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (4th-century AD Koine): /ˈor.ɣa.non/^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (10th-century Byzantine): /ˈor.ɣa.non/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''ὄργᾰνον''' (órganon) ''n'' (genitive ὀργᾰ́νου); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed like [[m|grc|ξόανον|tr=xóanon]] (from [[m|grc|ξέω|tr=xéō]]) and [[m|grc|ὄχανον|tr=ókhanon]] (from [[m|grc|ἔχω|tr=ékhō]]), from the root of [[m|grc|ἔργον|tr=érgon|t=work]] and [[m|grc|ἔρδω|tr=érdō|t=to do]], Indo-European [[ine-pro|*werǵ-|t=to work]].^(Beekes 2010)^(Frisk 1960)^(Wiktionary) Frisk leaves open whether it was formed directly from the verb or through [[m|grc|ἔργον|tr=érgon]] and the compounds in [[m|grc|-οργός|tr=-orgós]].^(Frisk 1960) Athena had the epithet [[m|grc|Ὀργάνη|tr=Orgánē]], beside [[m|grc|Ἐργάνη|tr=Ergánē]].^(Beekes 2010)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Its first recorded uses are in Sophocles' ''Women of Trachis'' and in Euripides (5th century BC), for implements and tools.^(GLAUx)^(LSJ 1940)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Classical Greek it is any instrument for making or doing something: Euripides speaks of spear-makers' tools, Plato of weapons, farming tools and a ship's tackle, and Ctesias uses it for an engine of war.^(LSJ 1940) It was also a musical instrument (Pindar, Euripides, Plato) and a surgical instrument.^(CGL 2021) Plato calls a name an instrument of teaching and the stars instruments of time, and uses it for the organs of sense.^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021) A person could be an instrument: Sophocles has an “instrument of all evils”, and Aristotle calls a slave or helper an instrument.^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021)

+

+ Latin borrowed it as [[m|la|organum]].^(Saalfeld 1874)^(Wiktionary) Its plural organa “a musical instrument” gave late Old English ''organe'' and Old French ''orgene'', the source of English ''organ'', which by the late 14th century meant the pipe instrument.^(Etymonline) Modern Greek has ''όργανο''.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 5th century BC – Sophocles and Euripides use it for tools.^(GLAUx)^(LSJ 1940)

+ * 5th–4th century BC – Plato uses it for musical instruments and the organs of sense.^(CGL 2021)^(DGE)

+ * 4th century BC – Aristotle calls a slave an instrument.^(CGL 2021)^(DGE)

+ * Late Old English – ''organe'' is borrowed for a musical instrument.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An [[m|en|instrument]], implement, [[m|en|tool]].^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021)

+ # A [[m|en|musical instrument]].^(CGL 2021)

+ # A surgical instrument; an engine of war.^(CGL 2021)^(LSJ 1940)

+ # ''(figurative)'' A person as an instrument, a helper.^(CGL 2021)

+ # An [[m|en|organ]] of sense, especially the eye.^(CGL 2021)^(LSJ 1940)

+ # A product of workmanship.^(CGL 2021)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[la|organum]]

+ * [[en|organ]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}