ἤλεκτρον Ancient Greek · revision 15557

+ {{infobox|confidence=unknown|attested=Homer, Odyssey}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (5th-century BC Attic): /ɛ̌ː.lek.tron/^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (4th-century AD Koine): /ˈi.lek.tron/^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (10th-century Byzantine): /ˈi.lek.tron/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''ἤλεκτρον''' (ḗlektron) ''n'' (genitive ἠλέκτρου); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It belongs with [[m|grc|ἠλέκτωρ|tr=ēléktōr]], a name of the sun and an epithet of Hyperion in Homer, but the word has no etymology.^(Beekes 2010)^(Frisk 1960)^(Wiktionary) Wilamowitz assumed a Carian origin without sufficient grounds, and Indo-European proposals are improbable.^(Beekes 2010)^(Frisk 1960) Beekes rejects the derivation from [[m|grc|ἀλέγω|tr=alégō]] by Leroy and Halleux and asks whether it is Pre-Greek.^(Beekes 2010)^(Frisk 1960) Wiktionary mentions doubtful links with [[sa|उल्का|tr=ulkā́|t=meteor]], [[la|Vulcānus]] and [[m|grc|ἥλιος|tr=hḗlios|t=sun]].^(Wiktionary) A Semitic explanation as “attracting straw” is rejected by Rosół.^(Rosół 2013)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Homer uses it in the ''Odyssey'': a necklace “strung with pieces of amber” (15.460), and in describing a palace (4.73).^(LSJ 1940)^(GLAUx)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Homer, Hesiod and Plato leave its gender unclear;^(LSJ 1940) Herodotus and Theophrastus treat it as neuter, and the masculine and feminine [[ἤλεκτρος|tr=ḗlektros]] also occur.^(LSJ 1940) It had two meanings: amber (the ''Odyssey'', Hesiod, Herodotus, Plato) and an alloy of gold and silver, electrum, the pale gold of the first Lydian coins (Sophocles).^(CGL 2021)^(LSJ 1940)^(Beekes 2010) Aristophanes may use it for the tuning-peg of a lyre.^(CGL 2021)

+

+ Its derivatives include [[ἠλεκτρώδης|tr=ēlektrṓdēs]] “like amber”, and the islands where amber was found were called the [[Ἠλεκτρίδες|tr=Ēlektrídes]].^(Beekes 2010) Latin borrowed it as [[m|la|electrum]].^(Saalfeld 1874) English ''electro-'' was formed from it.^(Etymonline)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Homer – The ''Odyssey'' uses it for amber.^(LSJ 1940)^(GLAUx)

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

+ * 5th century BC – Sophocles uses it for electrum;^(CGL 2021) Herodotus for amber.^(CGL 2021)^(LSJ 1940)^(DGE)

+ * 4th–3rd century BC – Theophrastus treats it as neuter.^(LSJ 1940)^(DGE)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|amber|alt=Amber]];^(LSJ 1940) ''(plural)'' pieces of amber.^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021)

+ # [[m|en|electrum|alt=Electrum]], an alloy of gold and silver.^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021)

+ # Perhaps the tuning-peg of a lyre.^(CGL 2021)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[ἠλεκτροφαής|tr=ēlektrophaḗs]]

+ * [[ἠλέκτρινος|tr=ēléktrinos]]

+ * [[ἠλεκτρώδης|tr=ēlektrṓdēs]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[la|electrum]]

+ * [[en|electric]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}