μυριάς Ancient Greek · revision 2295

+ {{infobox|confidence=unknown|formation=derivation|attested=6th–5th century BC, Simonides|origins=grc μυρίος}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (5th-century BC Attic): /myː.ri.ás/^(Wiktionary)

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

+ * IPA (10th-century Byzantine): /my.riˈas/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''μῡρῐᾰ́ς''' (mūriás) ''f'' (genitive μῡρῐᾰ́δος); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+ Boeotian μουριάς.^(CGL 2021)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is derived from [[μυρίος|tr=muríos|t=countless; ten thousand]] with the suffix -άς.^(Wiktionary)^(BDAG 2000)^(Etymonline) μυρίος has no etymology, according to Beekes.^(Beekes 2010) Wiktionary mentions links with a root for “damp”, as of the countless waves, or with [[μύρμηξ|tr=múrmēx|t=ant]], and Etymonline a root for “abundant”.^(Beekes 2010)^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Simonides and Herodotus use it for the number ten thousand.^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was used in counting men, money (drachmas), and measures of corn.^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021) From Euripides on it also meant a countless multitude, and as an adjective “innumerable”.^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021) Archimedes and Diophantus used it as a unit of large numbers, with the “second myriad” for ten thousand times ten thousand.^(LSJ 1940)^(BDAG 2000)

+

+ The Septuagint and the New Testament use it for ten thousand and for countless hosts, especially of angels, with the apocalyptic “myriads of myriads” in Revelation.^(Lust 2003)^(BDAG 2000) Through Late Latin myrias and French it gave English [[m|en|myriad]] (1550s).^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 6th–5th century BC – Simonides uses it for ten thousand.^(LSJ 1940)^(DGE)

+ * 5th century BC – Herodotus counts men and corn in myriads.^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021)^(DGE)

+ * 5th century BC – Euripides uses it of a countless multitude.^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021)^(DGE)

+ * 3rd century BC – Archimedes uses it in calculating large numbers.^(LSJ 1940)^(BDAG 2000)^(DGE)

+ * 1st century AD – Revelation has “myriads of myriads”.^(BDAG 2000)

+ * 1550s – English ''myriad''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The number [[m|en|ten thousand]], a [[m|en|myriad]]; of money, ten thousand drachmas.^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021)

+ # ''(mathematics)'' A unit of ten thousand; the second myriad, a hundred million.^(LSJ 1940)

+ # A countless number, a multitude.^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021)^(BDAG 2000)

+ # ''(as adjective)'' Innumerable.^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[μυριάκις|tr=muriákis]]

+ * [[μυριακισμυριοστός|tr=muriakismuriostós]]

+ * [[μυριάομαι|tr=muriáomai]]

+ * [[μυρίος|tr=mūríos]]

+ * [[μυριάκις|tr=muriákis]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|myriad]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}