λεόπαρδος Ancient Greek · revision 3238

+ {{infobox|confidence=disputed|attested=1st–2nd century AD, Ignatius of Antioch}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (5th-century BC Attic): /le.ó.par.dos/^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (4th-century AD Koine): /leˈo.par.ðos/^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (10th-century Byzantine): /leˈo.par.ðos/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''λεόπαρδος''' (leópardos) ''m'' (genitive λεοπάρδου); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+ Also [[λεοπάρδαλις|tr=leopárdalis]].^(Beekes 2010)^(Frisk 1960)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The origin is disputed.^(Beekes 2010)^(Frisk 1960) Frisk and Wiktionary explain it as a blend compound of [[λέων|tr=léōn|t=lion]] and [[πάρδος|tr=párdos|t=leopard]].^(Frisk 1960)^(Wiktionary) Beekes doubts this, because πάρδος is found only once, in Aelian, and a first member ⟨λεο-⟩ for ⟨λεοντο-⟩ is rare, though there is [[λεοδράκων|tr=leodrákōn]], a mythical creature in Crete.^(Beekes 2010)^(Frisk 1960) The usual Greek word for the leopard since Homer was [[πάρδαλις|tr=párdalis]].^(Beekes 2010) Both Beekes and Frisk think the Greek word was at least shaped by [[la|leopardus]], and Beekes, following Chantraine, that it may even be borrowed from it.^(Beekes 2010)^(Frisk 1960)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Ignatius of Antioch, taken to Rome to face the beasts, writes that he is “bound to ten leopards”, meaning the soldiers who guard him.^(BDAG 2000)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Galen and the Edict of Diocletian use it for the animal.^(LSJ 1940)^(Beekes 2010) Wiktionary notes that, at least after Pliny, it may have meant a supposed cross between lion and leopard.^(Wiktionary) In medieval vernacular Greek, the ''Digenis Akritas'' tells of the hero killing bears and leopards.^(Kriaras)

+

+ It passed to Latin [[m|la|leopardus]] and to the Slavic languages.^(Wiktionary) Modern Greek [[m|el|λεόπαρδος|tr=leópardos]] is a learned word.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1st–2nd century AD – Ignatius of Antioch calls his guards “leopards”.^(BDAG 2000)

+ * 2nd century AD – Galen uses it for the leopard.^(LSJ 1940)^(BDAG 2000)

+ * AD 301 – The Edict of Diocletian lists leopard skins.^(LSJ 1940)^(Beekes 2010)

+ * 12th–17th century – The ''Digenis Akritas'' has the hero kill leopards.^(Kriaras)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The [[m|en|leopard]].^(LSJ 1940)^(BDAG 2000)

+ # ''(figurative)'' A rough soldier.^(BDAG 2000)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[λέων|tr=léōn]]

+ * [[πάρδαλις|tr=párdalis]]

+ * [[πάρδος|tr=párdos]]

+ * [[la|leopardus]]

+ * [[en|leopard]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}