ἔπος Ancient Greek · revision 15595

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=Homer, Iliad|origins=ine-pro *wekʷ-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

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

+ * IPA (10th-century Byzantine): /ˈe.pos/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''ἔπος''' (épos) ''n'' (genitive ἔπεος or ἔπους); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|grk-pro|*wékʷos]], [[inh|ine-pro|*wékʷos]], from [[m|ine-pro|*wekʷ-|t=to speak]].^(Wiktionary)^(Beekes 2010) Elean and Cypriot [[m|grc|ϝέπος|tr=wépos]] is identical with [[sa|वचस्|tr=vácas|t=word]] and [[ae|vacah-|tr=vacah-|t=word]].^(Beekes 2010)^(Frisk 1960) The same root gives the aorist [[m|grc|εἶπον|tr=eîpon|t=I said]], the root noun in the accusative [[m|grc|ὄπα|tr=ópa|t=voice]], and [[m|grc|ὄσσα|tr=óssa|t=rumour]].^(Beekes 2010)^(Frisk 1960)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Homer uses it from the first book of the ''Iliad'' (1.77) for a word, speech or utterance, often paired with [[μῦθος|tr=mûthos]] (''Odyssey'' 4.597).^(GLAUx)^(LSJ 1940)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Homer and later it is anything spoken: an oracle, advice, a proverb, an order, a message, a story; one's word, a promise; and the word as opposed to the deed, [[ἔργον|tr=érgon]].^(CGL 2021)^(Wiktionary) Herodotus, Aristophanes and Plato use it for a single word, especially when discussing its meaning.^(CGL 2021) Pindar, Herodotus and Thucydides use it for a line of hexameter verse, and in the plural for epic poetry.^(CGL 2021)^(Beekes 2010)

+

+ Its derivatives include [[ἐπικός|tr=epikós]] “epic” and the diminutive [[ἐπύλλιον|tr=epúllion]].^(Beekes 2010) Latin borrowed it as [[m|la|epos]].^(Saalfeld 1874) In Modern Greek ''έπος'' is an epic poem, from the ancient plural ''τὰ ἔπη'', and Homer's “winged words” survive as a phrase.^(Triantafyllidis 1998)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Homer – The ''Iliad'' and the ''Odyssey'' use it for words and speech.^(GLAUx)^(LSJ 1940)

+ * 6th–5th century BC – Pindar uses it for lines of verse.^(CGL 2021)^(DGE)

+ * 5th century BC – Herodotus uses the plural for epic poetry.^(CGL 2021)^(Beekes 2010)^(DGE)

+ * 5th–4th century BC – Plato uses it for a single word.^(CGL 2021)^(DGE)

+ * Modern Greek – ''έπος'' means an epic.^(Triantafyllidis 1998)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|word]], utterance, speech; a saying, a story.^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021)

+ # One's word, a [[m|en|promise]].^(Wiktionary)

+ # Word, as opposed to deed.^(CGL 2021)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A single word.^(CGL 2021)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A line of verse;^(CGL 2021) ''(plural)'' [[m|en|epic|alt=epic]] poetry.^(CGL 2021)^(Beekes 2010)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[ἐποποιία|tr=epopoiíā]]

+ * [[ἐπικός|tr=epikós]]

+ * [[ἐπύλλιον|tr=epúllion]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[la|epos]]

+ * [[en|epic]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}