μέτρον Ancient Greek · revision 2345

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=Homer, Iliad|origins=ine-pro *meh₁-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

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

+ * IPA (10th-century Byzantine): /ˈme.tron/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''μέτρον''' (métron) ''n'' (genitive μέτρου); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|ine-pro|*meh₁-|t=to measure]], with the instrument suffix [[-τρον|tr=-tron]].^(Wiktionary)^(Beekes 2010) The root is seen in the Sanskrit athematic present mā́-ti “measures”; [[μήτρα|tr=mḗtra]] “land measure” (Cilicia) has the same suffix with a different grade of the root and matches Sanskrit mā́trā “measure” exactly.^(Beekes 2010)^(Frisk 1960)

+

+ The short ε of μέτρον, against Sanskrit mā́tram, has no exact parallel outside Greek.^(Frisk 1960) Beekes explains it from a zero grade [[m|ine-pro|*mh₁-tro-]].^(Beekes 2010) Frisk allows a thematic vowel or a reduced grade of the root, and compares [[pra|mettam|t=measure]].^(Beekes 2010)^(Frisk 1960)^(Βασικό Λεξικό) A derivation from [[m|ine-pro|*med-|t=to measure]] is impossible, since *méd-tro- would have given *μέστρον.^(Beekes 2010)^(Frisk 1960) The same verb gives [[μῆτις|tr=mêtis]].^(Beekes 2010)^(Frisk 1960)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In Homer it is a measuring rod or cord (two men “with measures in their hands” quarrel over a boundary), a unit of capacity (“a thousand measures” of wine), the full measure of youth (ἥβης μέτρον), and the length of a journey.^(Cunliffe 1924)^(Βασικό Λεξικό)^(LSJ 1940)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From Hesiod on it is also due measure and moderation (Theognis, Pindar, Euripides, Plato).^(CGL 2021)^(Βασικό Λεξικό) It named standard units of weight and measure, such as those that Pheidon gave the Peloponnesians (Herodotus), and in papyri of the 2nd century BC local units of grain.^(CGL 2021)^(LSJ 1940) Protagoras' saying that man is “the measure of all things” is quoted by Plato and Aristotle, and Plato and Xenophon use the word for a standard of judgement.^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021)

+

+ In verse it is the metrical unit and metre, verse as opposed to prose (Aristophanes, Isocrates, Plato), and Aristotle uses it of particular metres such as the iambic.^(CGL 2021)^(Βασικό Λεξικό) In the Gospels it is the measure with which one measures others (Matthew 7:2), and Luke's “good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over”.^(BDAG 2000)

+

+ It was borrowed as [[la|metrum]], and through Latin it reached the other European languages, as in [[m|fr|mètre]] and [[en|meter]], together with compounds such as [[διάμετρος|tr=diámetros]] and [[γεωμετρία|tr=geōmetría]].^(Βασικό Λεξικό)^(Etymonline) Medieval Greek used it for units of measure, measuring vessels and counting, and it continues as [[el|μέτρο|tr=métro]].^(Kriaras)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Homer – a measuring rod, measures of wine, “the measure of youth”.^(Cunliffe 1924)^(LSJ 1940)

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

+ * 5th century BC – Herodotus credits Pheidon with the measures of the Peloponnesians.^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021)^(DGE)

+ * 5th–4th century BC – Plato quotes Protagoras: man is the measure of all things.^(LSJ 1940)^(DGE)

+ * 4th century BC – Aristotle uses it for particular metres.^(CGL 2021)^(DGE)

+ * 2nd century BC – papyri use it for local units of grain.^(LSJ 1940)

+ * 1st century AD – the Gospels: “the measure you give”.^(BDAG 2000)

+ * Modern Greek – μέτρο.^(Kriaras)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The act of measuring, [[m|en|measurement]].^(CGL 2021)

+ # A standard unit of measure, and ''(plural)'' weights and measures.^(CGL 2021)^(LSJ 1940)

+ # A quantity measured by such a unit; the full measure of youth.^(CGL 2021)^(Cunliffe 1924)

+ # A measuring scoop or vessel; a measuring rod.^(CGL 2021)^(Cunliffe 1924)

+ # A standard of judgement, a [[m|en|criterion]].^(CGL 2021)^(LSJ 1940)

+ # Size, length, extent, and ''(plural)'' dimensions.^(CGL 2021)

+ # Distance, spacing.^(CGL 2021)

+ # A prescribed or proper measure, and ''(plural)'' the boundaries of a mining claim.^(CGL 2021)

+ # Due measure, [[m|en|moderation]].^(CGL 2021)^(Βασικό Λεξικό)

+ # A limit or end.^(CGL 2021)

+ # ''(prosody)'' A metrical unit; [[m|en|metre]], verse as opposed to prose.^(CGL 2021)^(Βασικό Λεξικό)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[μετρέω|tr=metréō]]

+ * [[μετρητός|tr=metrētós]]

+ * [[μετρικός|tr=metrikós]]

+ * [[μέτριος|tr=métrios]]

+ * [[τετράμετρος|tr=tetrámetros]]

+ * [[συμμετρία|tr=summetríā]]

+ * [[σύμμετρος|tr=súmmetros]]

+ * [[γεωμετρία|tr=geōmetríā]]

+ * [[διάμετρος|tr=diámetros]]

+ * [[περίμετρος|tr=perímetros]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[la|metrum]]

+ * [[en|symmetry]]

+ * [[en|meter]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}