πεῖρα Ancient Greek · revision 15540

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=7th century BC, Alcman|origins=ine-pro *per-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

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

+ * IPA (10th-century Byzantine): /ˈpi.ra/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''πεῖρᾰ''' (peîra) ''f'' (genitive πείρᾱς); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|grk-pro|*péřřa]], [[inh|ine-pro|*pér-ih₂]], from the root [[m|ine-pro|*per-|t=to cross, pass]].^(Wiktionary)^(Beekes 2010) Aeolic had [[m|grc|πέρρα|tr=pérra]].^(Beekes 2010)^(LSJ 1940) It is formed like [[m|grc|μοῖρα|tr=moîra]] and [[m|grc|σπεῖρα|tr=speîra]].^(Frisk 1960) The only certain cognates are Latin: [[la|perītus|t=experienced]], [[m|la|perīculum|t=trial, danger]] and [[m|la|experior|t=to try]].^(Frisk 1960) Wiktionary adds [[xcl|փորձ|tr=pʻorj|t=attempt]] and [[gem-pro|*fērō|t=danger]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Its first recorded use is in Alcman (7th century BC): “trial is the beginning of learning”.^(LSJ 1940)^(DGE) Theognis sets it against opinion.^(LSJ 1940)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Classical Greek used it for a test or experiment, for making trial of someone (the orators, Plato, Xenophon), for experience and acquaintance, and for an attempt or endeavour.^(CGL 2021) Thucydides speaks of failing in an attempt.^(LSJ 1940)

+

+ Its verbs [[πειράομαι|tr=peiráomai]] “to try, test” and [[πειράζω|tr=peirázō]] “to tempt” are common; the first gave [[πειρατής|tr=peirātḗs]], a pirate (Hellenistic).^(Beekes 2010) In the Koine πεῖρα kept the senses attempt, trial and experience, and the related [[πειρασμός|tr=peirasmós]] became the New Testament word for temptation.^(Spicq 1994) Modern Greek ''πείρα'' “experience” is a learned word.^(Triantafyllidis 1998)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 7th century BC – Alcman calls trial the beginning of learning.^(LSJ 1940)^(DGE)

+ * 6th century BC – Theognis sets it against opinion.^(LSJ 1940)^(DGE)

+ * 5th century BC – Thucydides uses it for an attempt.^(LSJ 1940)^(DGE)

+ * Hellenistic – The derivative πειρατής, “pirate”, appears.^(Beekes 2010)

+ * Modern Greek – ''πείρα'' means experience.^(Triantafyllidis 1998)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|trial]], test, [[m|en|experiment]].^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021)

+ # An [[m|en|attempt]], endeavour.^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021)

+ # [[m|en|experience|alt=Experience]]; acquaintance.^(CGL 2021)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[la|perīculum]]

+ * [[en|pirate]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}