ἐλεημοσύνη Ancient Greek · revision 3153

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=4th–3rd century BC, Callimachus|origins=grc ἔλεος}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (5th-century BC Attic): /e.le.ɛː.mo.sý.nɛː/^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (4th-century AD Koine): /e.le.i.moˈsy.ni/^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (10th-century Byzantine): /e.le.i.moˈsy.ni/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''ἐλεημοσῠ́νη''' (eleēmosúnē) ''f'' (genitive ἐλεημοσῠ́νης); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is derived from [[ἐλεήμων|tr=eleḗmōn|t=merciful, pitiful]] with the suffix [[m|grc|-σύνη|tr=-súnē]].^(Wiktionary)^(CGL 2021) Ἐλεήμων is from [[ἔλεος|tr=éleos|t=pity]].^(BDAG 2000)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Callimachus' ''Hymn to Delos'' uses it for an act of compassion.^(DGE)^(CGL 2021)^(BDAG 2000)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Chrysippus counts it among the soul's inclinations, and a papyrus has a plea “that we may obtain mercy”.^(DGE) In the Septuagint it means pity and mercy and, in Tobit and Sirach, charitable giving, alms.^(Lust 2003)^(BDAG 2000) In the New Testament, in the Gospel of Matthew, it is almsgiving.^(BDAG 2000)^(LSJ 1940) Diogenes Laertius uses it for alms too.^(LSJ 1940)

+

+ Latin borrowed it as [[m|la-ecc|eleēmosyna]], the source of English ''alms''.^(Wiktionary) Modern Greek [[m|el|ελεημοσύνη|tr=eleimosýni]] is a small gift to the poor, and in theology charity as a religious act.^(Triantafyllidis 1998)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 4th–3rd century BC – Callimachus uses it for compassion.^(DGE)^(CGL 2021)

+ * 3rd century BC – Chrysippus uses it for an inclination of the soul.^(DGE)

+ * 3rd–1st century BC – The Septuagint uses it for mercy and for alms.^(Lust 2003)

+ * 1st century AD – The Gospel of Matthew uses it for almsgiving.^(BDAG 2000)^(LSJ 1940)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|pity]], compassion, mercy.^(CGL 2021)^(LSJ 1940)

+ # An act of kindness.^(CGL 2021)

+ # [[m|en|alms]], charity.^(LSJ 1940)^(BDAG 2000)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[ἐλεήμων|tr=eleḗmōn]]

+ * [[ἔλεος|tr=éleos]]

+ * [[la|eleemosyna]]

+ * [[en|alms]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}