Ancient Greek

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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Borrowed from Aramaic אַבָּא (ʾaḇā, father)

The semantic shift from 'father' to 'abbot' is due to abbots being considered as fathers to the rest of the priests in the abbey, for being the wisest and more experienced.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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ἀββᾱ (abbām (indeclinable) indeclinable (Koine)

  1. father
  2. title of respect given to abbots

Descendants

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Borrowings
  • Coptic: ⲁⲡⲁ (apa), ⲁⲃⲃⲁ (abba) (see there for further descendants)
  • Gothic: 𐌰𐌱𐌱𐌰 (abba)
  • Latin: abbās (see there for further descendants)
  • Latin: abba (see there for further descendants)
  • Old Armenian: աբբայ (abbay)

Further reading

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and see ἀββᾶς (abbâs)