ἐκ

Ancient Greek

Alternative forms

• ἐξ (eks) (before a vowel)
• ἐγ (eg) (before β γ δ λ μ)

Etymology

From Proto-Indo-European *eḱs (“out of”), *eǵʰs, *h₁eǵʰs. Cognates include Latin ex, ē, Old Irish ess-, a, ass (Irish as), Lithuanian ìš and Old Church Slavonic из (iz).

Pronunciation

• (5th BC Attic): IPA: /ek/

• (1st BC Egyptian): IPA: /ɛk/

• (4th AD Koine): IPA: /ek/

• (10th AD Byzantine): IPA: /ek/

• (15th AD Constantinopolitan): IPA: /ek/

Preposition

ἐκ (ek)

1. (of place)
   1. (of motion) Out of, from
   2. from, with the source of
   3. to denote change from one place or condition to another
   4. to express separation of distinction from a number
   5. (of position) outside, beyond
2. (of time)
   1. from, since
   2. (of particular points of time) just, after
   3. during, in
3. (of origin)
   1. (of materials) made out of something
   2. (of descent, parentage) descended from
   3. (of causation) done by someone, something
   4. of the cause, instrument, or means by which a thing is done
   5. from, according to
   6. turns a following noun into a periphrastic adverb
   7. (with numerals) in such an order

Usage notes

ἐκ governs the genitive case.

Prefix

ἐκ (ek)

1. sense of removal; out, away, off
2. to express completion, totality; utterly