Ancient Greek

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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    From γίγνομαι (gígnomai, to be born) +‎ ().

    Pronunciation

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    Noun

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    γονή (gonḗf (genitive γονῆς); first declension

    1. offspring
      1. (of animals)
      2. (of the fruits of the earth)
      3. race, stock, family; parentage
        • 497 BCE – 405 BCE, Sophocles, Electra 156
        • 497 BCE – 405 BCE, Sophocles, Ajax 1093–1096:[1]
          οὐκ ἄν ποτ’, ἄνδρες, ἄνδρα θαυμάσαιμ’ ἔτι, / ὃς μηδὲν ὢν γοναῖσιν εἶθ’ ἁμαρτάνει, / ὅθ’ οἱ δοκοῦντες εὐγενεῖς πεφυκέναι / τοιαῦθ’ ἁμαρτάνουσιν ἐν λόγοις ἔπη·
          ouk án pot’, ándres, ándra thaumásaim’ éti, / hòs mēdèn ṑn gonaîsin eîth’ hamartánei, / hóth’ hoi dokoûntes eugeneîs pephukénai / toiaûth’ hamartánousin en lógois épē;
          • 1893 translation by Sir Richard Jebb[2]
            Never again, my fellow Salaminians, will I be amazed if some nobody by birth does wrong, when those who are reputed to be born of noble blood employ such wrongful sentiments in their arguments.
      4. generation
    2. that which engenders, seed
      1. organs of generation (genitalia)
        1. womb
    3. act of generation
      1. (of the mother) childbirth
      2. (of the child) birth
      3. cure for sterility
        • Paul., Aeg. 3.74
    4. (Pythagorean nomenclature) unity
      • Theol., Ar. 6

    Declension

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    Derived terms

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    Further reading

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