ὕδωρ Ancient Greek · revision 15528

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=Mycenaean (Linear B)|origins=ine-pro *wed-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

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

+ * IPA (10th-century Byzantine): /ˈy.ðor/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''ῡ̆̔́δωρ''' (hū́dōr) ''n'' (genitive ῡ̆̔́δᾰτος); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|grk-pro|*údōr]], [[inh|ine-pro|*wódr̥|t=water]], the old heteroclite noun with genitive *wednós, from the root [[m|ine-pro|*wed-|t=to well up, be wet]].^(Wiktionary)^(IE-CoR) The /ō/ of the nominative was taken from the plural.^(Wiktionary) Greek extended the /n/-stem of the oblique cases with a /t/: the genitive [[m|grc|ὕδατος|tr=húdatos]] is from [[m|ine-pro|*ud-n̥-t-]].^(Frisk 1960) Mycenaean has [[gmy|u-do]], most likely this word, and [[m|gmy|u-do-ro]], a bucket-shaped pot.^(IE-CoR)^(Beekes 2010)

+

+ Cognate with [[xum|utur|t=water]], [[hit|wātar|t=water]], [[sa|उदन्|tr=udán|t=water]], [[la|unda|t=wave]], [[got|𐍅𐌰𐍄𐍉|tr=watō|t=water]], [[cu|вода|tr=voda|t=water]] and [[ang|wæter|t=water]].^(Frisk 1960)^(Wiktionary) The same root gives [[m|grc|ὕω|tr=hū́ō|t=to rain]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Ancient grammarians such as Apollonius Dyscolus derived it from that verb.^(Etygram)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The Linear B form [[gmy|u-do]] on a Knossos tablet is most likely this word.^(IE-CoR) Homer uses it for water of every kind, for drinking and for mixing with wine (''Odyssey'' 1.110), for the waters of rivers, and for a flood.^(Cunliffe 1924)^(LSJ 1940)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Homer seawater is rarely called ὕδωρ without an epithet such as “salt”.^(LSJ 1940) Classical Greek used it for rain and rainfall, floods, springs and a water supply, and for the water of the water-clock that timed speeches in the lawcourts.^(CGL 2021) Earth and water were the tokens of submission demanded by the Persian king (Herodotus, the orators).^(CGL 2021) Philosophers counted it among the elements, and for Plato and Aristotle it was one of the four.^(CGL 2021)

+

+ The Septuagint uses the plural for rivers and has “children of the waters” for fishes;^(Lust 2003) in the New Testament it is water both as an element and in its everyday uses.^(BDAG 2000) In Modern Greek ''ύδωρ'' is a learned word for scientific terms and set phrases (heavy water, territorial waters), while the everyday word is ''νερό''.^(Triantafyllidis 1998) English ''hydro-'' comes from its combining form.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Mycenaean – A Knossos tablet probably has the word.^(IE-CoR)

+ * Homer – The ''Iliad'' and the ''Odyssey'' use it for water, rivers and floods.^(Cunliffe 1924)

+ * 5th century BC – Herodotus uses it for rain and in “earth and water”.^(CGL 2021)^(DGE)

+ * 5th–4th century BC – Plato counts it among the four elements.^(CGL 2021)^(DGE)

+ * 4th century BC – Demosthenes uses it for the water-clock in court.^(CGL 2021)^(DGE)

+ * Modern Greek – ''ύδωρ'' survives as a learned word.^(Triantafyllidis 1998)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|water|alt=Water]], for drinking, washing or mixing with wine.^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021)

+ # The water of a spring, river, lake or the sea; a stretch of water.^(CGL 2021)

+ # [[m|en|rain|alt=Rain]], rainfall;^(CGL 2021) ''(plural)'' showers.^(CGL 2021)

+ # A [[m|en|flood]].^(CGL 2021)^(Cunliffe 1924)

+ # Water as an [[m|en|element]].^(CGL 2021)

+ # A water supply.^(CGL 2021)

+ # The water of a [[m|en|water-clock]], the time allowed a speaker.^(CGL 2021)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[ἀνυδρία|tr=anudría]]

+ * [[ἄνυδρος|tr=ánudros]]

+ * [[κλεψύδρα|tr=klepsúdrā]]

+ * [[ὑδάτιον|tr=hudátion]]

+ * [[ὕδρα|tr=húdrā]]

+ * [[ὑδρεία|tr=hudreía]]

+ * [[ὑδρηλός|tr=hudrēlós]]

+ * [[ὑδρία|tr=hudríā]]

+ * [[ὑδρίον|tr=hudríon]]

+ * [[ὑδάτινος|tr=hudátinos]]

+ * [[ὑδράργυρος|tr=hudrárguros]]

+ * [[ὑδράρπαξ|tr=hudrárpax]]

+ * [[ὑδραυλικός|tr=hudraulikós]]

+ * [[ὕδραυλις|tr=húdraulis]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[Ὑάς|tr=Hūás]]

+ * [[ὕδνον|tr=húdnon]]

+ * [[ὕω|tr=hū́ō]]

+ * [[en|hydro-]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The Hesychius gloss on the curse “may you become water and earth” explains it as “may you dissolve and die”.^(Hesychius)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}