ἐπάρχω

Ancient Greek

Etymology

From ἐπῐ- (epi-, “on, upon; over”) +‎ ᾰ̓́ρχω (árkhō, “to begin; lead, rule, command”).

Pronunciation

 

• IPA^(key): /e.pár.kʰɔː/ → /eˈpar.xo/ → /eˈpar.xo/

• (5^th BCE Attic) IPA^(key): /e.pár.kʰɔː/
• (1^st CE Egyptian) IPA^(key): /eˈpar.kʰo/
• (4^th CE Koine) IPA^(key): /eˈpar.xo/
• (10^th CE Byzantine) IPA^(key): /eˈpar.xo/
• (15^th CE Constantinopolitan) IPA^(key): /eˈpar.xo/

Verb

ἐπάρχω • (epárkhō)

1. (transitive) to govern, lead, rule over [+genitive]
2. (intransitive) to be ruler, commander, governor of a province
   1. (Koine, Byzantine, historical) to be eparch of an eparchy in the Greek-speaking Eastern Roman Empire (akin to prefect of a prefecture in the Latin-speaking Western Roman Empire)
3. (idiomatic) to rule besides or in addition to one's hereditary dominions
4. (middle voice) to serve, offer [+dative]
   1. (Homeric) to pour the first drops before a libation

      ἐπάρξασθαι δεπάεσσιν ― epárxasthai depáessin ― to begin pouring into the cups

   Synonym: κατάρχω (katárkhō)

Inflection

   Present: ἐπᾰ́ρχω, ἐπᾰ́ρχομαι

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	ἐπᾰ́ρχω	ἐπᾰ́ρχεις	ἐπᾰ́ρχει	ἐπᾰ́ρχετον	ἐπᾰ́ρχετον	ἐπᾰ́ρχομεν	ἐπᾰ́ρχετε	ἐπᾰ́ρχουσῐ(ν)
	subjunctive	ἐπᾰ́ρχω	ἐπᾰ́ρχῃς	ἐπᾰ́ρχῃ	ἐπᾰ́ρχητον	ἐπᾰ́ρχητον	ἐπᾰ́ρχωμεν	ἐπᾰ́ρχητε	ἐπᾰ́ρχωσῐ(ν)
	optative	ἐπᾰ́ρχοιμῐ	ἐπᾰ́ρχοις	ἐπᾰ́ρχοι	ἐπᾰ́ρχοιτον	ἐπᾰρχοίτην	ἐπᾰ́ρχοιμεν	ἐπᾰ́ρχοιτε	ἐπᾰ́ρχοιεν
	imperative		ἔπᾰρχε	ἐπᾰρχέτω	ἐπᾰ́ρχετον	ἐπᾰρχέτων		ἐπᾰ́ρχετε	ἐπᾰρχόντων
middle/ passive	indicative	ἐπᾰ́ρχομαι	ἐπᾰ́ρχῃ, ἐπᾰ́ρχει	ἐπᾰ́ρχεται	ἐπᾰ́ρχεσθον	ἐπᾰ́ρχεσθον	ἐπᾰρχόμεθᾰ	ἐπᾰ́ρχεσθε	ἐπᾰ́ρχονται
	subjunctive	ἐπᾰ́ρχωμαι	ἐπᾰ́ρχῃ	ἐπᾰ́ρχηται	ἐπᾰ́ρχησθον	ἐπᾰ́ρχησθον	ἐπᾰρχώμεθᾰ	ἐπᾰ́ρχησθε	ἐπᾰ́ρχωνται
	optative	ἐπᾰρχοίμην	ἐπᾰ́ρχοιο	ἐπᾰ́ρχοιτο	ἐπᾰ́ρχοισθον	ἐπᾰρχοίσθην	ἐπᾰρχοίμεθᾰ	ἐπᾰ́ρχοισθε	ἐπᾰ́ρχοιντο
	imperative		ἐπᾰ́ρχου	ἐπᾰρχέσθω	ἐπᾰ́ρχεσθον	ἐπᾰρχέσθων		ἐπᾰ́ρχεσθε	ἐπᾰρχέσθων
		active				middle/passive
infinitive		ἐπᾰ́ρχειν				ἐπᾰ́ρχεσθαι
participle	m	ἐπᾰ́ρχων				ἐπᾰρχόμενος
	f	ἐπᾰ́ρχουσᾰ				ἐπᾰρχομένη
	n	ἐπᾰ́ρχον				ἐπᾰρχόμενον
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Imperfect: ἔπηρχον, ἐπηρχόμην

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	ἔπηρχον	ἔπηρχες	ἔπηρχε(ν)	ἐπήρχετον	ἐπηρχέτην	ἐπήρχομεν	ἐπήρχετε	ἔπηρχον
middle/ passive	indicative	ἐπηρχόμην	ἐπήρχου	ἐπήρχετο	ἐπήρχεσθον	ἐπηρχέσθην	ἐπηρχόμεθᾰ	ἐπήρχεσθε	ἐπήρχοντο
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Imperfect: ἔπᾰρχον, ἐπᾰρχόμην (Epic)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	ἔπᾰρχον	ἔπᾰρχες	ἔπᾰρχε(ν)	ἐπᾰ́ρχετον	ἐπᾰρχέτην	ἐπᾰ́ρχομεν	ἐπᾰ́ρχετε	ἔπᾰρχον
middle/ passive	indicative	ἐπᾰρχόμην	ἐπᾰ́ρχου	ἐπᾰ́ρχετο	ἐπᾰ́ρχεσθον	ἐπᾰρχέσθην	ἐπᾰρχόμε(σ)θᾰ	ἐπᾰ́ρχεσθε	ἐπᾰ́ρχοντο
Notes:	Dialects other than Attic are not well attested. Some forms are based on conjecture. Use with caution. For more details, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Future: ἐπᾰ́ρξω, ἐπᾰ́ρξομαι, ἐπᾰρχθήσομαι

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	ἐπᾰ́ρξω	ἐπᾰ́ρξεις	ἐπᾰ́ρξει	ἐπᾰ́ρξετον	ἐπᾰ́ρξετον	ἐπᾰ́ρξομεν	ἐπᾰ́ρξετε	ἐπᾰ́ρξουσῐ(ν)
	optative	ἐπᾰ́ρξοιμῐ	ἐπᾰ́ρξοις	ἐπᾰ́ρξοι	ἐπᾰ́ρξοιτον	ἐπᾰρξοίτην	ἐπᾰ́ρξοιμεν	ἐπᾰ́ρξοιτε	ἐπᾰ́ρξοιεν
middle	indicative	ἐπᾰ́ρξομαι	ἐπᾰ́ρξῃ, ἐπᾰ́ρξει	ἐπᾰ́ρξεται	ἐπᾰ́ρξεσθον	ἐπᾰ́ρξεσθον	ἐπᾰρξόμεθᾰ	ἐπᾰ́ρξεσθε	ἐπᾰ́ρξονται
	optative	ἐπᾰρξοίμην	ἐπᾰ́ρξοιο	ἐπᾰ́ρξοιτο	ἐπᾰ́ρξοισθον	ἐπᾰρξοίσθην	ἐπᾰρξοίμεθᾰ	ἐπᾰ́ρξοισθε	ἐπᾰ́ρξοιντο
passive	indicative	ἐπᾰρχθήσομαι	ἐπᾰρχθήσῃ	ἐπᾰρχθήσεται	ἐπᾰρχθήσεσθον	ἐπᾰρχθήσεσθον	ἐπᾰρχθησόμεθᾰ	ἐπᾰρχθήσεσθε	ἐπᾰρχθήσονται
	optative	ἐπᾰρχθησοίμην	ἐπᾰρχθήσοιο	ἐπᾰρχθήσοιτο	ἐπᾰρχθήσοισθον	ἐπᾰρχθησοίσθην	ἐπᾰρχθησοίμεθᾰ	ἐπᾰρχθήσοισθε	ἐπᾰρχθήσοιντο
		active			middle		passive
infinitive		ἐπᾰ́ρξειν			ἐπᾰ́ρξεσθαι		ἐπᾰρχθήσεσθαι
participle	m	ἐπᾰ́ρξων			ἐπᾰρξόμενος		ἐπᾰρχθησόμενος
	f	ἐπᾰ́ρξουσᾰ			ἐπᾰρξομένη		ἐπᾰρχθησομένη
	n	ἐπᾰ́ρξον			ἐπᾰρξόμενον		ἐπᾰρχθησόμενον
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Aorist: ἔπηρξᾰ, ἐπηρξᾰ́μην, ἐπήρχθην

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	ἔπηρξᾰ	ἔπηρξᾰς	ἔπηρξε(ν)	ἐπήρξᾰτον	ἐπηρξᾰ́την	ἐπήρξᾰμεν	ἐπήρξᾰτε	ἔπηρξᾰν
	subjunctive	ἐπᾰ́ρξω	ἐπᾰ́ρξῃς	ἐπᾰ́ρξῃ	ἐπᾰ́ρξητον	ἐπᾰ́ρξητον	ἐπᾰ́ρξωμεν	ἐπᾰ́ρξητε	ἐπᾰ́ρξωσῐ(ν)
	optative	ἐπᾰ́ρξαιμῐ	ἐπᾰ́ρξειᾰς, ἐπᾰ́ρξαις	ἐπᾰ́ρξειε(ν), ἐπᾰ́ρξαι	ἐπᾰ́ρξαιτον	ἐπᾰρξαίτην	ἐπᾰ́ρξαιμεν	ἐπᾰ́ρξαιτε	ἐπᾰ́ρξειᾰν, ἐπᾰ́ρξαιεν
	imperative		ἔπᾰρξον	ἐπᾰρξᾰ́τω	ἐπᾰ́ρξᾰτον	ἐπᾰρξᾰ́των		ἐπᾰ́ρξᾰτε	ἐπᾰρξᾰ́ντων
middle	indicative	ἐπηρξᾰ́μην	ἐπήρξω	ἐπήρξᾰτο	ἐπήρξᾰσθον	ἐπηρξᾰ́σθην	ἐπηρξᾰ́μεθᾰ	ἐπήρξᾰσθε	ἐπήρξᾰντο
	subjunctive	ἐπᾰ́ρξωμαι	ἐπᾰ́ρξῃ	ἐπᾰ́ρξηται	ἐπᾰ́ρξησθον	ἐπᾰ́ρξησθον	ἐπᾰρξώμεθᾰ	ἐπᾰ́ρξησθε	ἐπᾰ́ρξωνται
	optative	ἐπᾰρξαίμην	ἐπᾰ́ρξαιο	ἐπᾰ́ρξαιτο	ἐπᾰ́ρξαισθον	ἐπᾰρξαίσθην	ἐπᾰρξαίμεθᾰ	ἐπᾰ́ρξαισθε	ἐπᾰ́ρξαιντο
	imperative		ἔπᾰρξαι	ἐπᾰρξᾰ́σθω	ἐπᾰ́ρξᾰσθον	ἐπᾰρξᾰ́σθων		ἐπᾰ́ρξᾰσθε	ἐπᾰρξᾰ́σθων
passive	indicative	ἐπήρχθην	ἐπήρχθης	ἐπήρχθη	ἐπήρχθητον	ἐπηρχθήτην	ἐπήρχθημεν	ἐπήρχθητε	ἐπήρχθησᾰν
	subjunctive	ἐπᾰρχθῶ	ἐπᾰρχθῇς	ἐπᾰρχθῇ	ἐπᾰρχθῆτον	ἐπᾰρχθῆτον	ἐπᾰρχθῶμεν	ἐπᾰρχθῆτε	ἐπᾰρχθῶσῐ(ν)
	optative	ἐπᾰρχθείην	ἐπᾰρχθείης	ἐπᾰρχθείη	ἐπᾰρχθεῖτον, ἐπᾰρχθείητον	ἐπᾰρχθείτην, ἐπᾰρχθειήτην	ἐπᾰρχθεῖμεν, ἐπᾰρχθείημεν	ἐπᾰρχθεῖτε, ἐπᾰρχθείητε	ἐπᾰρχθεῖεν, ἐπᾰρχθείησᾰν
	imperative		ἐπᾰ́ρχθητῐ	ἐπᾰρχθήτω	ἐπᾰ́ρχθητον	ἐπᾰρχθήτων		ἐπᾰ́ρχθητε	ἐπᾰρχθέντων
		active			middle		passive
infinitive		ἐπᾰ́ρξαι			ἐπᾰ́ρξᾰσθαι		ἐπᾰρχθῆναι
participle	m	ἐπᾰ́ρξᾱς			ἐπᾰρξᾰ́μενος		ἐπᾰρχθείς
	f	ἐπᾰ́ρξᾱσᾰ			ἐπᾰρξᾰμένη		ἐπᾰρχθεῖσᾰ
	n	ἐπᾰ́ρξᾰν			ἐπᾰρξᾰ́μενον		ἐπᾰρχθέν
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Aorist: ἔπᾰρξᾰ, ἐπᾰρξᾰ́μην, ἐπᾰ́ρχθην (Epic)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	ἔπᾰρξᾰ	ἔπᾰρξᾰς	ἔπᾰρξε(ν)	ἐπᾰ́ρξᾰτον	ἐπᾰρξᾰ́την	ἐπᾰ́ρξᾰμεν	ἐπᾰ́ρξᾰτε	ἔπᾰρξᾰν
	subjunctive	ἐπᾰ́ρξω, ἐπᾰ́ρξωμῐ	ἐπᾰ́ρξῃς, ἐπᾰ́ρξῃσθᾰ	ἐπᾰ́ρξῃ, ἐπᾰ́ρξῃσῐ	ἐπᾰ́ρξητον	ἐπᾰ́ρξητον	ἐπᾰ́ρξωμεν	ἐπᾰ́ρξητε	ἐπᾰ́ρξωσῐ(ν)
	optative	ἐπᾰ́ρξαιμῐ	ἐπᾰ́ρξαις, ἐπᾰ́ρξαισθᾰ, ἐπᾰ́ρξειᾰς	ἐπᾰ́ρξειε(ν), ἐπᾰ́ρξαι	ἐπᾰρξεῖτον	ἐπᾰρξείτην	ἐπᾰρξεῖμεν	ἐπᾰρξεῖτε	ἐπᾰρξεῖεν
	imperative		ἔπᾰρξον	ἐπᾰρξᾰ́τω	ἐπᾰ́ρξᾰτον	ἐπᾰρξᾰ́των		ἐπᾰ́ρξᾰτε	ἐπᾰρξᾰ́ντων
middle	indicative	ἐπᾰρξᾰ́μην	ἐπᾰ́ρξᾰο	ἐπᾰ́ρξᾰτο	ἐπᾰ́ρξᾰσθον	ἐπᾰρξᾰ́σθην	ἐπᾰρξᾰ́με(σ)θᾰ	ἐπᾰ́ρξᾰσθε	ἐπᾰ́ρξᾰντο
	subjunctive	ἐπᾰ́ρξωμαι	ἐπᾰ́ρξηαι	ἐπᾰ́ρξηται	ἐπᾰ́ρξησθον	ἐπᾰ́ρξησθον	ἐπᾰρξώμε(σ)θᾰ	ἐπᾰ́ρξησθε	ἐπᾰ́ρξωνται
	optative	ἐπᾰρξαίμην	ἐπᾰ́ρξαιο	ἐπᾰ́ρξαιτο	ἐπᾰ́ρξαισθον	ἐπᾰρξαίσθην	ἐπᾰρξαίμε(σ)θᾰ	ἐπᾰ́ρξαισθε	ἐπᾰρξαίᾰτο
	imperative		ἔπᾰρξαι	ἐπᾰρξᾰ́σθω	ἐπᾰ́ρξᾰσθον	ἐπᾰρξᾰ́σθων		ἐπᾰ́ρξᾰσθε	ἐπᾰρξᾰ́σθων
passive	indicative	ἐπᾰ́ρχθην	ἐπᾰ́ρχθης	ἐπᾰ́ρχθη	ἐπᾰ́ρχθητον	ἐπᾰρχθήτην	ἐπᾰ́ρχθημεν	ἐπᾰ́ρχθητε	ἐπᾰ́ρχθησᾰν, ἔπᾰρχθεν
	subjunctive	ἐπᾰρχθῶ	ἐπᾰρχθῇς	ἐπᾰρχθῇ	ἐπᾰρχθῆτον	ἐπᾰρχθῆτον	ἐπᾰρχθῶμεν	ἐπᾰρχθῆτε	ἐπᾰρχθῶσῐ(ν)
	optative	ἐπᾰρχθείην	ἐπᾰρχθείης	ἐπᾰρχθείη	ἐπᾰρχθεῖτον, ἐπᾰρχθείητον	ἐπᾰρχθείτην, ἐπᾰρχθειήτην	ἐπᾰρχθεῖμεν, ἐπᾰρχθείημεν	ἐπᾰρχθεῖτε, ἐπᾰρχθείητε	ἐπᾰ́ρχθειεν, ἐπᾰρχθείησᾰν
	imperative		ἐπᾰ́ρχθητῐ	ἐπᾰρχθήτω	ἐπᾰ́ρχθητον	ἐπᾰρχθήτων		ἐπᾰ́ρχθητε	ἐπᾰρχθέντων
		active			middle		passive
infinitive		ἐπᾰ́ρξαι/ἐπᾰρξᾰ́μεν/ἐπᾰρξᾰμέναι			ἐπᾰ́ρξᾰσθαι		ἐπᾰρχθῆναι/ἐπᾰρχθήμεναι
participle	m	ἐπᾰ́ρξᾱς			ἐπᾰρξᾰ́μενος		ἐπᾰρχθείς
	f	ἐπᾰ́ρξᾱσᾰ			ἐπᾰρξᾰμένη		ἐπᾰρχθεῖσᾰ
	n	ἐπᾰ́ρξᾰν			ἐπᾰρξᾰ́μενον		ἐπᾰρχθέν
Notes:	Dialects other than Attic are not well attested. Some forms are based on conjecture. Use with caution. For more details, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Perfect: ἔπηρχᾰ, ἔπηργμαι

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	ἔπηρχᾰ	ἔπηρχᾰς	ἔπηρχε(ν)	ἐπήρχᾰτον	ἐπήρχᾰτον	ἐπήρχᾰμεν	ἐπήρχᾰτε	ἐπήρχᾱσῐ(ν)
	subjunctive	ἐπήρχω	ἐπήρχῃς	ἐπήρχῃ	ἐπήρχητον	ἐπήρχητον	ἐπήρχωμεν	ἐπήρχητε	ἐπήρχωσῐ(ν)
	optative	ἐπήρχοιμῐ, ἐπηρχοίην	ἐπήρχοις, ἐπηρχοίης	ἐπήρχοι, ἐπηρχοίη	ἐπήρχοιτον	ἐπηρχοίτην	ἐπήρχοιμεν	ἐπήρχοιτε	ἐπήρχοιεν
	imperative		ἔπηρχε	ἐπηρχέτω	ἐπήρχετον	ἐπηρχέτων		ἐπήρχετε	ἐπηρχόντων
middle/ passive	indicative	ἔπηργμαι	ἔπηρξαι	ἔπηρκται	ἔπηρχθον	ἔπηρχθον	ἐπήργμεθᾰ	ἔπηρχθε	ἐπήρχᾰται
	subjunctive	ἐπηργμένος ὦ	ἐπηργμένος ᾖς	ἐπηργμένος ᾖ	ἐπηργμένω ἦτον	ἐπηργμένω ἦτον	ἐπηργμένοι ὦμεν	ἐπηργμένοι ἦτε	ἐπηργμένοι ὦσῐ(ν)
	optative	ἐπηργμένος εἴην	ἐπηργμένος εἴης	ἐπηργμένος εἴη	ἐπηργμένω εἴητον/εἶτον	ἐπηργμένω εἰήτην/εἴτην	ἐπηργμένοι εἴημεν/εἶμεν	ἐπηργμένοι εἴητε/εἶτε	ἐπηργμένοι εἴησᾰν/εἶεν
	imperative		ἔπηρξο	ἐπήρχθω	ἔπηρχθον	ἐπήρχθων		ἔπηρχθε	ἐπήρχθων
		active				middle/passive
infinitive		ἐπηρχέναι				ἐπῆρχθαι
participle	m	ἐπηρχώς				ἐπηργμένος
	f	ἐπηρχυῖᾰ				ἐπηργμένη
	n	ἐπηρχός				ἐπηργμένον
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Derived terms

• ἐπαρχεία (eparkheía)
• ἐπαρχεῖον (eparkheîon)
• ἐπαρχέω (eparkhéō)
• ἐπαρχή (eparkhḗ)
• ἐπαρχία (eparkhía)
• ἐπαρχικός (eparkhikós)
• ἐπαρχιώτης (eparkhiṓtēs)
• ἔπαρχος (éparkhos)
• ἐπαρχότης (eparkhótēs)
• ἐπάρχων (epárkhōn)

 

Further reading

• “ἐπάρχω”, in Liddell & Scott (1940) A Greek–English Lexicon, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• “ἐπάρχω”, in Liddell & Scott (1889) An Intermediate Greek–English Lexicon, New York: Harper & Brothers
• ἐπάρχω - Kriaras, Emmanuel (1969-) Επιτομή του Λεξικού της Μεσαιωνικής Ελληνικής Δημώδους Γραμματείας (Epitomí tou Lexikoú tis Mesaionikís Ellinikís Dimódous Grammateías) (in Greek), Thessaloniki: Centre for the Greek language Online edition (abbreviations) Printed edition 2022: 22 vols.)
• ἐπάρχω in Bailly, Anatole (1935) Le Grand Bailly: Dictionnaire grec-français, Paris: Hachette