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ἄρχω

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
See also: άρχω

Ancient Greek

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Etymology

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    Of disputed origin:

    • From Proto-Indo-European *h₂r̥-sḱe-ti (to start, rule), which appears to be an inchoative formation from *h₂er- (to fit, put together), thus to begin to fit together > to start, rule. Compare Old Armenian արքայ (arkʻay, king), which Matzinger considered inherited from Indo-European,[1] but which is generally thought to be ultimately a borrowing from Greek.
    • Alternatively from a root *h₂ergʰ- (to begin, rule, command), perhaps cognate with Lithuanian regė́ti (to watch, see). (Can this(+) etymology be sourced?)

    Pronunciation

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    Verb

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    ἄρχω (árkhō)

    1. (transitive) to begin [with genitive ‘something, from something, with something’]
    2. (transitive) to lead, rule, govern, command [with genitive or dative ‘someone’]
    3. (intransitive) to be ruler; to hold an archonship

    Usage notes

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    • The Epic infinitive ἀρχέμεναι (arkhémenai) is attested.
    • The Doric future middle form ἀρξεῦμαί (arxeûmaí) is attested. Bailly suggests a Doric imperfect middle form ἀρχόμαν (arkhóman), citing the imperfect form ἄρχετο (árkheto) in Pindar. Liddell and Scott suggest a Doric imperfect form ἆρχον (ârkhon), citing the form ἆρχε (ârkhe), also found in Pindar. Bailly further suggests the Doric aorist ἀρξάμην (arxámēn), noting the form ἄρξατο (árxato), which appears in Theocritus.
    • Bailly suggests an Ionic middle imperfect form ἀρχόμην (arkhómēn), noting the form ἄρχετο (árkheto) in Herodotus. Herodotus also uses the form ἤρχετο (ḗrkheto). Bailly suggests an Ionic perfect participle ἀργμένος (argménos), noting the form ἀργμένης (argménēs), which appears in Herodotus.

    Inflection

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    Derived terms

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    Descendants

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    • Greek: άρχω (árcho) (learned)

    References

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    1. ^ Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010) “ἄρχω”, in Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 10), with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, pages 145-6

    Further reading

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