κόπτω Ancient Greek · revision 3195

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=Homer, Iliad|origins=ine-pro *(s)kep-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

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

+ * IPA (10th-century Byzantine): /ˈkop.to/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''κόπτω''' (kóptō) ^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is probably a present in ⟨*-ye-⟩ from the root [[ine-pro|*(s)kep-|t=to hack, chop]], with the ''o''-grade that dominates in its verbs.^(LIV 2001)^(Wiktionary)^(Beekes 2010) It matches [[lt|kapoti|alt=kàpti|t=to hew, fell]] and [[sq|kep|t=to hew]], and there are Slavic verbs such as [[ru|копать|tr=kopatʹ|t=to dig]].^(Beekes 2010)^(Frisk 1960)^(LIV 2001) Beekes notes that if it belongs with [[σκάπτω|tr=skáptō|t=to dig]] and [[σκέπαρνον|tr=sképarnon|t=adze]], with their α/ο variation, it could instead come from a Pre-Greek or European substrate.^(Beekes 2010) Frisk thought the relation with the ⟨sk-⟩ words would always remain unsolved.^(Beekes 2010)^(Frisk 1960)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Homer uses it for striking with a blow: Odysseus strikes the horses with his bow, the Earth-holder strikes the two Ajaxes with his staff, a man fells an ox by striking it behind the horns, and chains are hammered out.^(Cunliffe 1924)^(LSJ 1940)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant to strike or smite, with the hand, a weapon or a tool: to slaughter animals, to cut off a head, to cut down trees, to lay waste a land, to hammer metal and later to stamp coins, and to knock at a door.^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021) In the passive, Thucydides uses it of ships disabled in battle, and Aeschylus figuratively of a mind “struck” out of its wits.^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021)

+

+ In the middle it meant to beat one's head or breast in mourning, and so to mourn for someone; this is its usual sense in the Septuagint, where Abraham mourns for Sarah, and in the New Testament, where the tribes of the earth will mourn.^(CGL 2021)^(Lust 2003)^(BDAG 2000) The Gospels also use it for cutting branches to spread before Jesus.^(BDAG 2000) The sense “to tire out” gave [[κόπος|tr=kópos|t=toil, weariness]], and other derivatives are [[κόμμα|tr=kómma|t=stamp, piece, comma]] and [[κομμός|tr=kommós|t=lament]].^(Beekes 2010)^(Frisk 1960) Byzantine Greek ''κόβω'' is the Modern Greek word for “to cut”.^(Wiktionary)^(Kriaras)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Homer – It is used for striking, slaughtering and hammering.^(Cunliffe 1924)^(LSJ 1940)

+ * 6th–5th century BC – Aeschylus uses the middle for beating one's breast in mourning.^(BDAG 2000)^(CGL 2021)

+ * 5th century BC – Thucydides uses it for cutting down trees and for ships disabled in battle.^(LSJ 1940)

+ * 3rd–1st century BC – The Septuagint uses the middle for mourning.^(Lust 2003)

+ * 1st century AD – The Gospels use it for cutting branches and for mourning.^(BDAG 2000)

+ * Byzantine period – It becomes ''κόβω''.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|strike]], smite, hit.^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021)

+ # To strike down, [[m|en|slaughter]] an animal.^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021)

+ # To cut off, chop off; to cut down trees; to lay waste a land.^(LSJ 1940)^(BDAG 2000)

+ # To [[m|en|hammer]], forge; to stamp coins.^(LSJ 1940)

+ # To knock at a door.^(CGL 2021)

+ # ''(passive, of ships)'' To be disabled.^(LSJ 1940)

+ # ''(middle)'' To beat one's breast in grief; to [[m|en|mourn]] for someone.^(CGL 2021)^(BDAG 2000)

+ # To tire out.^(Beekes 2010)^(Frisk 1960)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[ἀνακόπτω|tr=anakóptō]]

+ * [[ἀποκόπτω|tr=apokóptō]]

+ * [[διακόπτω|tr=diakóptō]]

+ * [[ἐκκόπτω|tr=ekkóptō]]

+ * [[κόμμα|tr=kómma]]

+ * [[κομμός|tr=kommós]]

+ * [[κοπάζω|tr=kopázō]]

+ * [[κόπανον|tr=kópanon]]

+ * [[κοπετός|tr=kopetós]]

+ * [[κοπιάω|tr=kopiáō]]

+ * [[κοπίς|tr=kopís]]

+ * [[κόπις|tr=kópis]]

+ * [[κόπος|tr=kópos]]

+ * [[κοπώδης|tr=kopṓdēs]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[σκάπτω|tr=skáptō]]

+ * [[συγκοπή|tr=sunkopḗ]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}