κανών Ancient Greek · revision 15568

+ {{infobox|confidence=disputed|formation=borrowing|attested=Mycenaean (Linear B)|origins=qfa-sub-grc}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

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

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''κᾰνών''' (kanṓn) ''m'' (genitive κᾰνόνος); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ Beekes considers it Pre-Greek, [[der|qfa-sub-grc|-]]: it is most often connected with [[m|grc|κάννα|tr=kánna|t=reed]] as a “stave of reed”, and the variation of /a/ and /o/ shows a Pre-Greek word.^(Beekes 2010)^(Beekes 2014) Scarborough's database rates this very reliable.^(PHILOGLOSSA) Mycenaean has [[gmy|ko-no-ni-pi]], /konōni-phi/.^(Beekes 2010)

+

+ Rosół, on the other hand, takes it as a Semitic loanword, probably borrowed independently of [[m|grc|κάννα|tr=kánna]], comparing [[akk|qanû|t=reed; a measure of length]] and [[hbo|קָנֶה|tr=qāne|t=reed, measuring reed, balance]].^(Rosół 2013) Beekes and Frisk do not prefer the Semitic etymology.^(Beekes 2010)^(Frisk 1960)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Mycenaean tablets have [[gmy|ko-no-ni-pi]].^(Beekes 2010) In Homer it is a straight rod: the staves that kept a shield in shape (''Iliad'' 8.193, 13.407) and the weaver's rod (''Iliad'' 23.761).^(LSJ 1940)^(PHILOGLOSSA)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Masons and carpenters used it for the rule or straight-edge (Sophocles, Plato, Aeschines), and Aristotle speaks of a flexible lead rule.^(LSJ 1940) It was also the beam of a balance, a curtain-rod, the bars of a window and, in music, the monochord, on which Euclid wrote.^(LSJ 1940)

+

+ Figuratively it was a rule or standard: Euripides speaks of learning by the rule of the good, Aristotle calls the good man the rule and measure of what is noble and pleasant, and Demosthenes says freedom was the standard of good things for the earlier Greeks.^(LSJ 1940) Epicurus called his logic “the canon”, and Polyclitus' statue and treatise of ideal proportions were “the Canon”.^(LSJ 1940) It also meant a tax assessment.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Arabic The word was borrowed into Arabic as [[m|ar|قانون|tr=qānūn]].^(Wiktionary) Medieval Greek kept the word, and Modern Greek has ''κανόνας''.^(Kriaras)^(Πάπυρος)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Mycenaean – Linear B has ko-no-ni-pi.^(Beekes 2010)

+ * Homer – The ''Iliad'' uses it for shield staves and a weaver's rod.^(LSJ 1940)

+ * 5th century BC – Euripides uses it for a moral standard.^(LSJ 1940)^(DGE)

+ * 4th century BC – Aristotle calls the good man a rule and measure.^(LSJ 1940)^(DGE)

+ * 4th–3rd century BC – Epicurus names his logic “the canon”.^(LSJ 1940)^(DGE)

+ * Modern Greek – ''κανόνας'' means rule.^(Πάπυρος)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A straight rod, bar; the staves of a shield; a weaver's rod.^(LSJ 1940)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A [[m|en|ruler]], straight-edge.^(LSJ 1940)

+ # The beam of a balance; a curtain-rod; window bars.^(LSJ 1940)

+ # ''(music)'' The [[m|en|monochord]].^(LSJ 1940)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(figurative)'' A [[m|en|rule]], standard, norm.^(LSJ 1940)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(art)'' A model of proportions.^(LSJ 1940)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A tax assessment.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[κανονίζω|tr=kanonízō]]

+ * [[κανονικός|tr=kanonikós]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|canon]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}