γωνία Ancient Greek · revision 2287

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=derivation|attested=5th century BC, Herodotus|origins=ine-pro *ǵónu}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (5th-century BC Attic): /ɡɔː.ní.aː/^(Wiktionary)

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

+ * IPA (10th-century Byzantine): /ɣoˈni.a/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''γωνῐ́ᾱ''' (gōníā) ''f'' (genitive γωνῐ́ᾱς); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is derived from [[γόνυ|tr=gónu|t=knee]], as a bend or joint; the connection is generally accepted.^(Beekes 2010)^(Frisk 1960)^(DGE)^(Etygram) The long ω is a difficulty, because the paradigm of [[m|ine-pro|*ǵónu]] had no lengthened grade.^(Beekes 2010)^(Frisk 1960) Beekes explains it as the regular Doric outcome of *γονϝ-ία, since the mathematicians who used the word were Pythagoreans, writing in Doric.^(Beekes 2010)^(Wiktionary) Hamp derived the ω from compounds like [[τρίγωνος|tr=trígōnos]].^(Beekes 2010)^(Wiktionary)^(Etygram) The long ā of [[sa|जानु|tr=jā́nu|t=knee]] arose in Sanskrit and is irrelevant.^(Beekes 2010)

+

+ Ancient etymologists also derived it from the knee: Orion explains it as a joint that folds on itself.^(Etygram)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Herodotus uses it for the corner of a building.^(Beekes 2010)^(CGL 2021)^(LSJ 1940)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Plato, Xenophon, Aristotle and above all Euclid it is the geometrical [[m|en|angle]], with the right, acute and obtuse angle; the Hippocratic writers already speak of a right angle.^(CGL 2021)^(DGE)^(LSJ 1940) It also named the joiner's set-square (Plato, Plutarch) and the cutwater of a bridge (Diodorus).^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021) As the second member of compounds it gave -γωνος, as in τρίγωνος “triangular” and [[πολύγωνος|tr=polúgōnos]].^(Beekes 2010)^(Frisk 1960)

+

+ Plato's phrase “to whisper in a corner” made it a word for a secluded spot, and the Acts of the Apostles has “this was not done in a corner”.^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021)^(BDAG 2000) The Septuagint used it of a leader, and the New Testament has “the head of the corner”, the cornerstone, from the Psalms, and “the four corners of the earth”.^(LSJ 1940)^(BDAG 2000)^(Beekes 2010)

+

+ Medieval Greek also had the form γωνιά, which became the everyday Modern Greek word for a corner and the hearth; [[el|γωνία|tr=gonía]] is the learned word for an angle.^(Kriaras)^(Triantafyllidis 1998)^(Etygram) It was borrowed into Persian for a set-square, and through Persian into Turkish.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 5th century BC – Herodotus uses it for a corner of a building.^(CGL 2021)^(LSJ 1940)^(DGE)

+ * 5th–4th century BC – Plato uses it for the geometrical angle, the set-square, and a secluded corner.^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021)^(DGE)

+ * 3rd century BC – Euclid defines plane and solid angles.^(LSJ 1940)^(DGE)

+ * 1st century AD – the New Testament: the cornerstone, and “not done in a corner”.^(BDAG 2000)

+ * 12th century – the medieval form γωνιά is recorded.^(Kriaras)

+ * Modern Greek – γωνιά “corner”, γωνία “angle”.^(Triantafyllidis 1998)^(Etygram)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|corner]] of a building or room; a street corner.^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021)

+ # ''(geometry)'' An [[m|en|angle]].^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021)

+ # A secluded place, a corner.^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021)

+ # A set-square; a [[m|en|quadrant]] for measuring vertical angles.^(CGL 2021)^(LSJ 1940)

+ # A joint of the body.^(LSJ 1940)^(DGE)

+ # The cutwater of a bridge.^(LSJ 1940)^(DGE)

+ # ''(astronomy)'' One of the four quarters of the compass.^(LSJ 1940)^(DGE)

+ # ''(Septuagint)'' A leader, chief.^(LSJ 1940)^(Beekes 2010)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[ἐγγώνιος|tr=engṓnios]]

+ * [[εὐγώνιος|tr=eugṓnios]]

+ * [[τετράγωνος|tr=tetrágōnos]]

+ * [[τρίγωνος|tr=trígōnos]]

+ * [[γώνιος|tr=gṓnios]]

+ * [[διαγώνιος|tr=diagṓnios]]

+ * [[ἑξάγωνος|tr=hexágōnos]]

+ * [[ἑπτάγωνος|tr=heptágōnos]]

+ * [[πεντάγωνος|tr=pentágōnos]]

+ * [[πολύγωνος|tr=polúgōnos]]

+ * [[γωνιώδης|tr=gōniṓdēs]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[γόνυ|tr=gónu]]

+ * [[en|pentagon]]

+ * [[en|polygon]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}