ἀδελφός

See also: αδελφός

Ancient Greek

Alternative forms

  • ἀδελφεός (adelpheós), ἀδελφειός (adelpheiós) Epic, Ionic, Lyric
  • ἀδελφιός (adelphiós) Boeotian
  • ἀδελφιός (adelphiós), ἀδευφιός (adeuphiós) Cretan

Etymology

From Proto-Indo-European *sm̥-gʷelbʰ- (one/same womb), from *gʷelbʰ- (womb), equivalent to ἁ- (ha-, copulative prefix) + δελφύς (delphús, womb). The initial /h/ is lost due to Grassmann's Law. Cognate to Sanskrit सगर्भ्य (ságarbhya, brother).

Pronunciation

 

Adjective

ᾰ̓δελφός • (adelphós) m (feminine ᾰ̓δελφή, neuter ᾰ̓δελφόν); first/second declension

(Attic)
  1. brotherly or sisterly
    • 467 BCE, Aeschylus, Seven Against Thebes 811:
      οὕτως ἀδελφαῖς χερσὶν ἠναίρονθ’ ἅμα;
      hoútōs adelphaîs khersìn ēnaíronth’ háma?
      • 1926 translation by Herbert Weir Smyth
        Then with hands so fraternal did they each kill the other together?
  2. double
  3. closely related, akin

Declension

Noun

ἀδελφός (adelphós) m (genitive ἀδελφοῦ); second declension

  1. brother

Declension

Descendants

Further reading

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