κῶμος Ancient Greek · revision 15561

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|attested=6th century BC, Theognis}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

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

+ * IPA (10th-century Byzantine): /ˈko.mos/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''κῶμος''' (kômos) ''m'' (genitive κώμου); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The origin is uncertain, because the development of its meaning is unclear.^(Beekes 2010)^(Frisk 1960)^(Wiktionary) Proposals include:^(Beekes 2010)^(Frisk 1960)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ * [[m|ine-pro|*ḱómso-]], from [[ine-pro|*ḱems-|t=to proclaim]], the root of [[sa|शंस|tr=śáṃsa|t=praise]] and [[la|cēnseō|t=to give an opinion]] (Dunkel, Schlerath).^(Wiktionary)^(Beekes 2010)

+ * [[m|ine-pro|*kóh₂-mo-]], from [[ine-pro|*keh₂-|t=to desire]], as in [[sa|काम|tr=kā́ma|t=desire]] and [[la|cārus|t=dear]] (Janda).^(Wiktionary)

+ * Older guesses connected it with [[m|grc|κώμη|tr=kṓmē|t=village]] or with Latin [[m|la|cibus|t=food]].^(Frisk 1960)

+ * Beekes suggests it is a Pre-Greek word, [[der|qfa-sub-grc|-]].^(Beekes 2010)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is post-Homeric.^(Beekes 2010) Its first recorded uses are in Theognis and the ''Homeric Hymn to Hermes'' (6th century BC), for revelry.^(GLAUx)^(LSJ 1940)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was communal revelry with feasting, dancing, singing and drinking (Herodotus, Euripides), and especially the band of drunken men roaming the streets at night, sometimes gate-crashing a party (Theognis, Aristophanes, Plato, Xenophon).^(CGL 2021)^(LSJ 1940) Isaeus and Bion use it for a visit to the house of one's beloved, to pound at the door or sing a serenade.^(CGL 2021) Pindar uses it often.^(GLAUx)

+

+ Spicq describes its first meaning as a festive procession that formed part of religious festivals and was linked to the birth of the theatre.^(Spicq 1994) Its compound [[κωμῳδός|tr=kōmōidós]], the singer in a κῶμος, became the comic actor, and [[κωμικός|tr=kōmikós]] means “of comedy”.^(Beekes 2010)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 6th century BC – Theognis and the ''Homeric Hymn to Hermes'' use it.^(GLAUx)^(LSJ 1940)

+ * 6th–5th century BC – Pindar uses it often.^(GLAUx)^(DGE)

+ * 5th century BC – Herodotus uses it for revelry.^(LSJ 1940)^(DGE)

+ * 5th–4th century BC – Plato speaks of dinners and revels with flute-girls.^(LSJ 1940)^(DGE)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|revelry|alt=Revelry]], merrymaking.^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021)

+ # A band of revellers roaming at night.^(CGL 2021)

+ # A festive procession, especially of Dionysus; a festive song.^(Beekes 2010)^(Spicq 1994)

+ # A visit of revellers to the house of a beloved.^(CGL 2021)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[κωμάζω|tr=kōmázō]]

+ * [[κωμαστής|tr=kōmastḗs]]

+ * [[κωμῳδία|tr=kōmōidíā]]

+ * [[σύγκωμος|tr=súnkōmos]]

+ * [[ἀκώμαστος|tr=akṓmastos]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|comedy]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}