σῶμα Ancient Greek · revision 15577

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

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

+ * IPA (10th-century Byzantine): /ˈso.ma/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''σῶμᾰ''' (sôma) ''n'' (genitive σώμᾰτος); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It has no convincing etymology.^(Beekes 2010)^(Frisk 1960)^(Etymonline) Among the Indo-European words for “body”, only the family of [[la|corpus]] is widespread.^(Beekes 2010)^(Frisk 1960) It has been compared in form with [[m|grc|σωρός|tr=sōrós|t=heap]], from [[m|ine-pro|*twoH-mn̥|t=compactness, swelling]], from [[m|ine-pro|*tewh₂-|t=to swell]], though such an /o/-grade formation is strange.^(Beekes 2010)^(Wiktionary) Beekes thinks the most promising analysis is [[m|ine-pro|*(s)tyoH-mn̥|t=what has stiffened]], related to [[sa|स्त्या|tr=styā|t=to get stiff]].^(Beekes 2010)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In Homer, as Aristarchus already noted, it always means a dead body, a corpse: a lion rejoices on finding a great carcass (''Iliad'' 3.23).^(LSJ 1940)^(Beekes 2010)^(GLAUx) The living body in Homer is [[δέμας|tr=démas]].^(LSJ 1940)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From Hesiod on it is also the living body, and Pindar, Isocrates, Plato and Xenophon set it against the soul.^(CGL 2021) In Attic it meant a person, in Hellenistic Greek a slave, and Aeschylus, Plato and Aristotle use it for a whole or totality; the papyri use it for the text of a document.^(Beekes 2010)^(Frisk 1960) Hyperides and Dinarchus speak of the “body” of the city.^(CGL 2021)

+

+ The Septuagint uses it for the body, a corpse, a person, and in the plural for slaves.^(Lust 2003) In the New Testament it is also the body of Christ.^(CGL 2021) Modern Greek ''σώμα'' is learned, with some senses taken from French ''corps''.^(Triantafyllidis 1998) English ''somatic'' (1753) and ''somato-'' come from it.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Homer – The ''Iliad'' uses it for a corpse.^(LSJ 1940)^(GLAUx)

+ * Before the 6th century BC – Hesiod uses it for the living body.^(CGL 2021)^(GLAUx)^(DGE)

+ * 5th–4th century BC – Plato sets the body against the soul.^(CGL 2021)^(DGE)

+ * Hellenistic – It is used for a slave.^(Beekes 2010)

+ * 1753 – English ''somatic'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(Homer)'' A dead body, [[m|en|corpse]]; a carcass.^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021)

+ # The living [[m|en|body]], as opposed to the soul.^(CGL 2021)

+ # A person.^(Beekes 2010)^(Lust 2003)

+ # ''(Hellenistic)'' A [[m|en|slave]].^(Beekes 2010)^(Lust 2003)

+ # A whole, totality; a body politic.^(Beekes 2010)^(CGL 2021)

+ # ''(papyri)'' The text of a document.^(Beekes 2010)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[σωματικός|tr=sōmatikós]]

+ * [[σωμάτιον|tr=sōmátion]]

+ * [[σωμάτινος|tr=sōmátinos]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|somatic]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}