ὀξύς Ancient Greek · revision 2265

+ {{infobox|confidence=disputed|formation=inherited|attested=Homer, Iliad|origins=ine-pro *h₂eḱ-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

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

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''ὀξῠ́ς''' (oxús) ''m'' (feminine ὀξεῖᾰ, neuter ὀξῠ́); first/third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It has no exact correspondences outside Greek.^(Beekes 2010)^(Frisk 1960) The traditional explanation makes it [[inh|ine-pro|*h₂eḱ-|t=sharp]], as a u-stem adjective with the o-grade of the root of [[ἄκρος|tr=ákros]] and [[ὄκρις|tr=ókris]] “point”.^(Frisk 1960)^(Wiktionary)^(Βασικό Λεξικό) Frisk sees in it a zero grade *oḱs- of an s-stem.^(Frisk 1960)^(Wiktionary)^(Βασικό Λεξικό)

+

+ Beekes objects that there are no other u-stem adjectives with o-vowel, and finds Narten's root [[ine-pro|*h₃ks-]], based on [[sa|अक्ष्णोति|tr=akṣṇoti|t=to mark the ear]], doubtful.^(Beekes 2010)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Byzantine etymologists derived it from [[ξύω|tr=xúō]] or [[ξέω|tr=xéō]] “to scrape”, as if “scraped” sharp.^(Etygram)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Homer uses it above all of weapons and cutting tools, sharp of point or edge, and of stakes, rocks and peaks; also of the piercing rays of the sun, shrill cries and sharp pains, and as an epithet of Ares and of battle, “keen, fierce”.^(Cunliffe 1924)^(LSJ 1940) The neuter ὀξύ is an adverb of quick seeing and hearing.^(Cunliffe 1924)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Classical Greek applied it to everything sharp to the senses: shrill or high-pitched sounds and voices, keen sight and hearing, dazzling light, acid tastes in wine, food and bile, and to temper and mind, “quick, hasty, sharp-witted”.^(CGL 2021)^(LSJ 1940)^(Βασικό Λεξικό) Technical uses grew from it: in geometry the acute angle, ὀξεῖα γωνία (Plato, Aristotle, Euclid), in grammar the acute accent (Plato), and in medicine acute illness.^(CGL 2021)^(LSJ 1940)^(Βασικό Λεξικό)

+

+ In the New Testament it describes the sharp sword and sickle of Revelation and the feet “swift to shed blood” of Romans 3:15.^(BDAG 2000) Medieval Greek kept it for pointed and cutting things, steep slopes, strong winds and smells, and quick minds.^(Kriaras) [[el|οξύς|tr=oxýs]] is a learned revival, used of acute angles, shrill sounds, keen senses and acute illnesses, and [[el|οξύ|tr=oxý]] “acid” and [[el|οξυγόνο|tr=oxygóno]] “oxygen” keep the stem.^(Triantafyllidis 1998)^(Etygram) [[en|oxy-]] is from it.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Homer – sharp weapons, stakes and rocks, piercing pain, “keen” Ares.^(Cunliffe 1924)^(LSJ 1940)

+ * 5th century BC – Herodotus calls the apex of the Nile Delta τὸ ὀξύ.^(CGL 2021)^(LSJ 1940)^(DGE)

+ * 5th–4th century BC – Plato uses it of the acute angle and the acute accent.^(CGL 2021)^(DGE)

+ * 4th century BC – Aristotle uses ὀξεῖα γωνία for an acute angle.^(LSJ 1940)^(DGE)

+ * 3rd century BC – Euclid defines the acute angle.^(LSJ 1940)^(DGE)

+ * 1st century AD – the New Testament: a sharp sword, feet swift to shed blood.^(BDAG 2000)

+ * Modern Greek – οξύς as a learned word; οξύ “acid”, οξυγόνο “oxygen”.^(Triantafyllidis 1998)^(Etygram)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Sharp, pointed; of weapons and tools, [[m|en|keen]].^(CGL 2021)^(LSJ 1940)

+ # Naturally sharp: of rocks, peaks, claws.^(CGL 2021)

+ # Tapering to a point, ''(geometry)'' [[m|en|acute]], of an angle; as a noun, the apex.^(CGL 2021)^(LSJ 1940)

+ # Of sounds: [[m|en|shrill]], piercing, ''(music)'' high-pitched.^(CGL 2021)

+ # ''(grammar)'' Acute, of an accent or syllable.^(CGL 2021)

+ # Of sight and hearing: keen.^(CGL 2021)^(Cunliffe 1924)

+ # Of what is perceived: piercing (sun, wind), dazzling (light, colour), [[m|en|sour]] or acid (wine, bile).^(CGL 2021)^(LSJ 1940)

+ # Quick, swift; hasty, passionate.^(BDAG 2000)^(Wiktionary)^(Βασικό Λεξικό)

+ # Sharp-witted, clever.^(Wiktionary)^(Βασικό Λεξικό)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[ὄξος|tr=óxos]]

+ * [[ὀξύβαφον|tr=oxúbaphon]]

+ * [[ὀξύτης|tr=oxútēs]]

+ * [[ὀξύτονος|tr=oxútonos]]

+ * [[ὀξυθυμία|tr=oxuthūmíā]]

+ * [[ὀξύθυμος|tr=oxúthūmos]]

+ * [[ὀξύμωρος|tr=oxúmōros]]

+ * [[ὀξύνω|tr=oxū́nō]]

+ * [[παροξυσμός|tr=paroxusmós]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[ἄκρος|tr=ákros]]

+ * [[en|oxymoron]]

+ * [[en|oxy-]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ A noun ὀξύς, genitive ὀξύδος, names sorrel or dock (Pliny, Galen); Beekes lists it among the derivatives of the adjective.^(Beekes 2010)^(LSJ 1940)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}