μόνος Ancient Greek · revision 15489

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=Homer, Iliad|origins=grk-pro *mónwos}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

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

+ * IPA (10th-century Byzantine): /ˈmo.nos/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''μόνος''' (mónos) ''m'' (feminine μόνη, neuter μόνον); first/second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|grk-pro|*mónwos]].^(Wiktionary)^(Frisk 1960) Ionic [[m|grc|μοῦνος|tr=moûnos]] and Doric [[m|grc|μῶνος|tr=mônos]] lengthened the vowel when the /w/ was lost, while the Attic form simplified the cluster without lengthening.^(Πάπυρος)^(Frisk 1960)

+

+ The further origin is uncertain.^(Wiktionary) The ending is the same as in [[m|grc|οἶος|tr=oîos|t=alone, only]] and [[m|grc|ὅλος|tr=hólos|t=whole]].^(Frisk 1960)^(Πάπυρος) Frisk compares [[m|grc|μανός|tr=mānós|t=thin, loose]], from [[m|grk-pro|*manwós]], which matches [[xcl|մանր|tr=manr|t=small, thin]];^(Frisk 1960) Wiktionary suggests Indo-European [[ine-pro|*men-|t=small]].^(Wiktionary) The Πάπυρος dictionary objects that the link with [[m|grc|μανός|tr=mānós]] is semantically difficult.^(Πάπυρος)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Homer uses only the Ionic form [[μοῦνος|tr=moûnos]], meaning alone, as in “being alone among many Cadmeans” (''Iliad'' 4.388).^(LSJ 1940) Hesiod and Herodotus also use μοῦνος.^(LSJ 1940)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Its senses are alone, without others; single-handed; alone of all, only, sole; and, with numbers, only one.^(CGL 2021) Attic used μόνος, while Sophocles and Pindar still used μοῦνος in verse.^(LSJ 1940)

+

+ Its compounds and derivatives became widespread: [[μόναρχος|tr=mónarkhos]] “monarch” (Theognis, Pindar), [[μονάς|tr=monás]] “unity” (Plato), and [[μοναχός|tr=monakhós]] “single” (Aristotle), later “hermit, monk”, which Latin borrowed as [[m|la|monachus]].^(Beekes 2010) Medieval and Modern Greek ''μόνος'' still means alone, only.^(Kriaras)^(Triantafyllidis 1998)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Homer – The ''Iliad'' uses μοῦνος for being alone.^(LSJ 1940)

+ * 6th century BC – Theognis uses the compound μόναρχος.^(Beekes 2010)^(DGE)

+ * 5th century BC – Herodotus uses μοῦνος.^(LSJ 1940)^(DGE)

+ * 5th–4th century BC – Plato uses μονάς for unity.^(Beekes 2010)^(DGE)

+ * 6th century AD – Procopius uses μοναχός for a monk.^(Beekes 2010)^(DGE)

+ * Modern Greek – ''μόνος'' means alone, only.^(Triantafyllidis 1998)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|alone|alt=Alone]], solitary, on one's own.^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021)

+ # Unaided, single-handed.^(CGL 2021)

+ # [[m|en|only|alt=Only]], sole; alone of all.^(CGL 2021)^(Wiktionary)

+ # With numbers: only one, a single.^(CGL 2021)

+ # [[m|en|unique|alt=Unique]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[μονάς|tr=monás]]

+ * [[μοναχός|tr=monakhós]]

+ * [[μονάζω|tr=monázō]]

+ * [[μονάξ|tr=monáx]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[la|monachus]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}