See also: άξιος and Ἀξιός

Ancient Greek

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Etymology

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According to some scholars, from ἄγω (ágō, to lead, draw out or down) +‎ -τιος (-tios) (perhaps via an unattested intermediate ἄξις (áxis, weight)), with sense development "draw down (in the scale)" > "weigh, import". Beekes expresses mild doubts about this, both in the semantics as well as no other morphological derivative of ἄγω (ágō) being in -τι- (-ti-), but tentatively accepts this etymology.[1] For a semantic parallel, compare Latin exāmen (tongue of a balance; examining), from the same root.

Pronunciation

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Adjective

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ᾰ̓́ξῐος (áxiosm (feminine ᾰ̓ξῐ́ᾱ, neuter ᾰ̓́ξῐον); first/second declension

  1. counterbalancing, weighing as much as, of like value
    • Iliad 23.885:
      νῦν δ’ οὐδ’ ἑνὸς ἄξιοί εἰμεν Ἕκτορος
      we [all of us] are not worth as much as one Hector
  2. worthy, fit

Declension

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Derived terms

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Descendants

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  • Coptic: ⲁⲝⲓⲟⲥ (aksios)
  • Greek: άξιος (áxios)

Interjection

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ἄξιος (áxios)

  1. (Koine, Christianity) Acclamation confirming the election of a Christian bishop or patriarch, (literally) "Worthy!" [from c. 4th century]

References

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  1. ^ Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010) “ἄξιος”, in Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 10), with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, page 111

Further reading

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