ἀφορισμός Ancient Greek · revision 3159

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Critias|origins=grc ὅρος}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (5th-century BC Attic): /a.pʰo.riz.mós/^(Wiktionary)

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

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''ᾰ̓φορῐσμός''' (aphorismós) ''m'' (genitive ᾰ̓φορῐσμοῦ); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is derived from [[ἀφορίζω|tr=aphorízō|t=to mark off, separate]] with the suffix [[m|grc|-μός|tr=-mós]].^(Wiktionary) The verb is formed from [[ἀπό|alt=ἀπο-|tr=apo-|t=off]] and [[ὁρίζω|tr=horízō|t=to bound, define]], from [[ὅρος|tr=hóros|t=boundary]].^(Wiktionary)^(Beekes 2010)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Critias already uses it for a pithy sentence, an aphorism, and Aristotle's ''Categories'' for determination.^(LSJ 1940)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Its literal sense was the marking of boundaries, a land survey, as in papyri from the 2nd century BC and Delphic inscriptions.^(DGE)^(LSJ 1940) Theophrastus uses it for separation or distinction, for the attainment of definiteness, and for a fixed rule; from “definition” came “a short definition”, and so the pithy sayings of the Hippocratic ''Aphorisms'', a term Philo and Hermogenes use.^(LSJ 1940)^(DGE) The Septuagint uses it for an offering set apart, and John Lydus for banishment, translating Latin ''relegatio''.^(Lust 2003)^(LSJ 1940)

+

+ Latin borrowed it as [[m|la|aphorismus]].^(Wiktionary) In Christian Greek it became the church's sentence of separation, excommunication, which is its main sense in Modern Greek [[m|el|αφορισμός|tr=aforismós]]; as a learned word it is also a dogmatic pronouncement made without proof.^(Triantafyllidis 1998)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 5th century BC (probably) – Critias uses it for an aphorism.^(LSJ 1940)

+ * 4th century BC – Aristotle uses it for determination.^(LSJ 1940)

+ * 4th–3rd century BC – Theophrastus uses it for distinction and for a fixed rule.^(LSJ 1940)

+ * 2nd century BC – A papyrus uses it for a land survey.^(DGE)

+ * 6th century AD – John Lydus uses it for banishment.^(LSJ 1940)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Delimitation, the marking of boundaries; a land survey.^(LSJ 1940)^(DGE)

+ # Separation, distinction, or ''(later)'' banishment.^(LSJ 1940)

+ # Determination; [[m|en|definition]].^(LSJ 1940)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A pithy sentence, an [[m|en|aphorism]], such as those of Hippocrates.^(LSJ 1940)

+ # A fixed rule.^(LSJ 1940)

+ # ''(Septuagint)'' An offering set apart.^(Lust 2003)

+ # ''(Christian)'' [[m|en|excommunication]].^(Triantafyllidis 1998)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[ἀφορίζω|tr=aphorízō]]

+ * [[ὁρίζω|tr=horízō]]

+ * [[ὅρος|tr=hóros]]

+ * [[la|aphorismus]]

+ * [[en|aphorism]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}