αἵρεσις Ancient Greek · revision 3269

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=5th century BC, Herodotus|origins=grc αἱρέω}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (5th-century BC Attic): /hǎi̯.re.sis/^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (4th-century AD Koine): /ˈɛ.re.sis/^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (10th-century Byzantine): /ˈe.re.sis/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''αἵρεσῐς''' (haíresis) ''f'' (genitive αἱρέσεως or αἱρέσῐος); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is derived from [[αἱρέω|tr=hairéō|t=to take, (middle) to choose]], with the suffix of action nouns [[m|grc|-σις|tr=-sis]].^(Wiktionary)^(Βασικό Λεξικό)^(Beekes 2010) Beekes knows no etymology for the verb, which uses [[ἑλεῖν|tr=heleîn]] as its aorist.^(Beekes 2010)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Herodotus uses it for the taking of a city, such as Babylon.^(LSJ 1940)^(DGE) Pindar already has the sense “choice”, and Aeschylus has ''αἵρεσιν διδόναι'', “to give someone the choice”.^(LSJ 1940)^(DGE)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The two senses follow the two voices of the verb: the active “take” gives “capture”, the middle “take for oneself, choose” gives “choice”.^(LSJ 1940)^(Beekes 2010) In Classical Athens it was also the election of magistrates, which Aristotle opposes to selection by lot.^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021)

+

+ In Hellenistic Greek it came to mean a chosen course or principle, and then a system of belief and those who hold it: Polybius and Diodorus use it for a philosophical school, and Diogenes Laertius lists the “schools” of philosophy.^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021)^(BDAG 2000) Josephus and Acts call the Pharisees, the Sadducees and the Essenes, and even the Christians, ''haireseis''.^(BDAG 2000)^(LSJ 1940) In Paul it means a faction, and in Ignatius and later Christian writers a heretical sect.^(BDAG 2000)

+

+ Latin borrowed it as [[m|la|haeresis]], Gothic and Old Church Slavonic took it too, and medieval vernacular Greek used it for a religious heresy and a bad habit.^(Wiktionary)^(Kriaras)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 6th–5th century BC – Pindar uses it for a choice.^(LSJ 1940)^(DGE)

+ * 5th century BC – Herodotus and Thucydides use it for the capture of a city.^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021)

+ * 4th century BC – Aristotle uses it for election by vote, as opposed to the lot.^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021)

+ * 2nd century BC – Polybius uses it for a philosophical school.^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021)

+ * 1st century AD – Josephus and Acts call the Jewish parties ''haireseis'', and Paul uses it of factions.^(BDAG 2000)

+ * Early 2nd century AD – Ignatius uses it for a heretical sect.^(BDAG 2000)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A taking, especially the [[m|en|capture]] of a city.^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021)

+ # Acquisition, receiving.^(LSJ 1940)^(DGE)

+ # [[m|en|choice]]; the right or chance to choose.^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021)

+ # The selection of persons for an office; [[m|en|election]] by vote.^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021)

+ # ''(Hellenistic)'' A chosen principle, outlook or course of action.^(CGL 2021)^(LSJ 1940)

+ # ''(Hellenistic)'' A school of thought or the people who hold it; a [[m|en|sect]].^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021)

+ # ''(New Testament)'' A faction, dissension.^(BDAG 2000)

+ # ''(Christian)'' A heretical sect, [[m|en|heresy]].^(BDAG 2000)^(Kriaras)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[αἱρεσιάρχης|tr=hairesiárkhēs]]

+ * [[αἱρεσιώτης|tr=hairesiṓtēs]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[αἱρέω|tr=hairéō]]

+ * [[αἱρετός|tr=hairetós]]

+ * [[αἱρετικός|tr=hairetikós]]

+ * [[προαίρεσις|tr=proaíresis]]

+ * [[διαίρεσις|tr=diaíresis]]

+ * [[la|haeresis]]

+ * [[en|heresy]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}