ἀστήρ Ancient Greek · revision 15551

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=Homer, Iliad|origins=ine-pro *h₂stḗr}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

+ * IPA (4th-century AD Koine): /asˈtir/^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (10th-century Byzantine): /asˈtir/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''ᾰ̓στήρ''' (astḗr) ''m'' (genitive ᾰ̓στέρος); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|grk-pro|*astḗr]], [[inh|ine-pro|*h₂stḗr|t=star]].^(Wiktionary)^(Beekes 2010) Beekes calls the reconstruction straightforward: an old noun with nominative *h₂stēr, accusative *h₂ster-m, genitive *h₂str-os.^(Beekes 2010) The plural is mostly [[m|grc|ἄστρα|tr=ástra]], from which a new singular [[m|grc|ἄστρον|tr=ástron]] was made.^(Beekes 2010)^(Frisk 1960)

+

+ Cognate with [[hit|ḫasterza|t=star]], [[xcl|աստղ|tr=astł|t=star]], [[sga|ser|t=star]], [[got|𐍃𐍄𐌰𐌹𐍂𐌽𐍉|tr=stairnō|t=star]], [[txb|ścirye|t=star]], [[sa|तारा|tr=tā́rā|t=star]] and [[la|stēlla|t=star]].^(Beekes 2010)^(Wiktionary) Beekes thinks a connection with [[m|ine-pro|*h₂eh₁s-|t=to burn]] quite probable.^(Beekes 2010) A derivation from the Babylonian goddess name [[akk|Ištar]] is highly improbable because of the initial laryngeal, and Rosół lists it among rejected Semitic etymologies.^(Beekes 2010)^(Rosół 2013)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Homer uses it for stars and for a shooting star sent as a sign (''Iliad'' 4.75); a child is “like a lovely star” (''Iliad'' 6.401).^(LSJ 1940)^(DGE)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It names particular stars: Sirius in the ''Iliad'' and Hesiod, Venus from Homer on, Arcturus in Hesiod, and meteors and comets in Aristophanes and Plato.^(CGL 2021)^(LSJ 1940) Euripides uses it for the light of a beacon and for an illustrious person, and Herodotus and Plutarch for a golden star-shaped ornament.^(CGL 2021) It also meant a starfish and a kind of songbird.^(Wiktionary) The Revelation of John has “a great star” falling from heaven (8:10).^(DGE)

+

+ Latin borrowed it as [[m|la|astēr]].^(Wiktionary) Medieval Greek kept ''αστήρ'',^(Kriaras) and Modern Greek has ''αστέρι'' and ''άστρο''.^(IE-CoR)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Homer – The ''Iliad'' uses it for stars and a shooting star.^(LSJ 1940)^(DGE)

+ * Before the 6th century BC – Hesiod names Sirius and Arcturus.^(LSJ 1940)^(DGE)

+ * 5th century BC – Herodotus uses it for a star-shaped ornament.^(CGL 2021)^(DGE)

+ * 5th century BC – Euripides uses it for an illustrious person.^(CGL 2021)^(DGE)

+ * 1st century AD – Revelation has a great star falling.^(DGE)

+ * Modern Greek – ''αστέρι'' and ''άστρο'' mean star.^(IE-CoR)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|star]], planet or other heavenly body.^(LSJ 1940)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A shooting star, [[m|en|meteor]]; a comet.^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021)

+ # A light, flame.^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021)

+ # ''(figurative)'' An illustrious person.^(CGL 2021)^(LSJ 1940)

+ # A star-shaped ornament.^(CGL 2021)

+ # A [[m|en|starfish]]; a kind of songbird.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[ἀστέριος|tr=astérios]]

+ * [[ἀστερόεις|tr=asteróeis]]

+ * [[ἄναστρος|tr=ánastros]]

+ * [[ἀστερίσκος|tr=asterískos]]

+ * [[ἔναστρος|tr=énastros]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[la|stēlla]]

+ * [[en|star]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}