ἀθάνατος

Ancient Greek edit

Etymology edit

From ᾰ̓- (a-, un-) +‎ θᾰ́νᾰτος (thánatos, dying).

Pronunciation edit

 

The first alpha is etymologically expected to be short, but it always scans long in poetry because poetic meter does not allow three light syllables in a row.

Adjective edit

ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰτος (āthánatosm (feminine ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰτος or ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τη, neuter ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰτον); first/second declension

  1. undying, immortal
    Synonyms: ἄμβροτος (ámbrotos), ἄφθῐτος (áphthitos)
    Antonyms: βρότειος (bróteios), βροτός (brotós), θνητός (thnētós), μορτός (mortós)
    • 630 BCE – 570 BCE, Sappho, Collected Works 1.14:
      Σὺ δ’, ὦ μάκαιρα, μειδιάσαισ’ ἀθανάτῳ προσώπῳ ἤρε’ ὄττι δηὖτε πέπονθα.
      Sù d’, ô mákaira, meidiásais’ athanátōi prosṓpōi ḗre’ ótti dēûte pépontha.
      And you, blessed Lady, with a smile on your immortal face, asked what bothered me again.
  2. everlasting, perpetual
    • 409 BCE, Sophocles, Philoctetes 1420:
      Ἀθάνατον ἀρετὴν ἔσχον, ὡς πάρεσθ’ ὁρᾶν.
      Athánaton aretḕn éskhon, hōs páresth’ horân.
      I have won deathless glory, as you witness.
  3. maintained at a constant figure

Declension edit

Related terms edit

Descendants edit

Noun edit

ἀθάνατος (athánatosm (genitive ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́του); second declension

  1. the rose campion (Silene coronaria, syn. Lychnis coronaria)

References edit