μηχανή Ancient Greek · revision 15554

+ {{infobox|confidence=disputed|formation=borrowing|attested=Hesiod, Theogony|origins=qfa-sub-grc}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (5th-century BC Attic): /mɛː.kʰa.nɛ̌ː/^(Wiktionary)

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

+ * IPA (10th-century Byzantine): /mi.xaˈni/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''μηχᾰνή''' (mēkhanḗ) ''f'' (genitive μηχᾰνῆς); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ Beekes considers it Pre-Greek, [[der|qfa-sub-grc|-]], because of the element -αν- and because its alternating forms are hard to derive from an Indo-European root; he holds that its link with [[m|grc|μάγγανον|tr=mánganon|t=charm; block of a pulley]] proves the Pre-Greek origin.^(Beekes 2014)^(Wiktionary) Scarborough's database rates this very reliable.^(PHILOGLOSSA)

+

+ The traditional view derives it, with [[m|grc|μῆχος|tr=mêkhos|t=means]], from Indo-European [[ine-pro|*megʰ-|t=to be able]], comparing [[got|𐌼𐌰𐌲|tr=mag|t=can, may]] and [[cu|мощи|tr=mošti|t=to be able]].^(Frisk 1960)^(Wiktionary) Frisk explains the form from an old heteroclite noun [[m|grc|*μᾶχαρ|tr=*mâkhar]], genitive [[m|grc|*μάχανος|tr=*mákhanos]], whose /n/-stem was generalised and given a final -ā.^(Frisk 1960)^(Πάπυρος) The Doric form is [[m|grc|μαχανά|tr=mākhanā́]].^(Frisk 1960)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Its first recorded use is in Hesiod's ''Theogony'', for contrivances.^(GLAUx)^(CGL 2021) Pindar has the Doric μαχανά.^(GLAUx)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Its abstract sense, device, contrivance, stratagem or scheme, is found from Hesiod and the lyric poets on, often with a bad sense.^(CGL 2021) Concretely it is a machine: a hoist for raising building stones in Herodotus, Poseidon's trident in Aeschylus, siege engines in Thucydides, Xenophon and Polybius, and an automaton in Polybius.^(CGL 2021)^(PHILOGLOSSA) In the theatre it was the crane on which gods appeared in the air, mentioned by Plato, Demosthenes, Aristotle and Menander.^(CGL 2021) It also meant a means of doing something, and Demosthenes quotes a law with “by any means whatever”.^(CGL 2021)

+

+ Latin borrowed it as [[m|la|machina]].^(Saalfeld 1874) Medieval Greek kept the word,^(Kriaras) and Modern Greek ''μηχανή'' continues it.^(Triantafyllidis 1998)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Before the 6th century BC – Hesiod's ''Theogony'' uses it.^(GLAUx)^(DGE)

+ * 6th–5th century BC – Pindar uses the Doric form;^(GLAUx) Aeschylus uses it of Poseidon's trident.^(GLAUx)^(CGL 2021)^(DGE)

+ * 5th century BC – Herodotus uses it for a hoist;^(PHILOGLOSSA) Thucydides for siege engines.^(CGL 2021)^(PHILOGLOSSA)^(DGE)

+ * 4th century BC – Aristotle and Demosthenes mention the stage crane.^(CGL 2021)^(DGE)

+ * Modern Greek – ''μηχανή'' continues the ancient word.^(Triantafyllidis 1998)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|device]], [[m|en|contrivance]]; a stratagem, scheme.^(CGL 2021)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A [[m|en|machine]]: a hoist, an automaton.^(CGL 2021)

+ # A siege engine; defensive machinery.^(CGL 2021)

+ # The stage [[m|en|crane]] of the theatre.^(CGL 2021)

+ # A means of doing something.^(CGL 2021)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[ἀμήχανος|tr=amḗkhanos]]

+ * [[κακομήχανος|tr=kakomḗkhanos]]

+ * [[μηχανάομαι|tr=mēkhanáomai]]

+ * [[μηχανάω|tr=mēkhanáō]]

+ * [[μηχάνημα|tr=mēkhánēma]]

+ * [[μηχάνησις|tr=mēkhánēsis]]

+ * [[μηχανικός|tr=mēkhanikós]]

+ * [[μηχάνωμα|tr=mēkhánōma]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[μῆχος|tr=mêkhos]]

+ * [[la|machina]]

+ * [[en|machine]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}