πρῶτος

Ancient Greek

Alternative forms

• πρᾶτος (Doric)

Etymology

Traditionally held to be the superlative of πρό (pro, “before”) (compare πρότερος (proteros)), but it is unclear how such a contraction would come about. Could also be from a Proto-Indo-European *pr̥H-, with cognates including Lithuanian pirmas, Sanskrit पूर्व (pūrva), and Avestan 𐬞𐬀𐬎𐬭𐬬𐬀 (paurva). In both cases, the ω and α forms are difficult to reconcile.

Pronunciation

• (5th BC Attic): IPA: /prɔ́͜ɔtos/

• (1st BC Egyptian): IPA: /próːtos/

• (4th AD Koine): IPA: /prótos/

• (10th AD Byzantine): IPA: /prótos/

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

Adjective

πρῶτος m, πρώτη f, πρῶτον n; first/second declension; (prỗtos)

1. (ordinal) first, cardinal counterpart is εἷς
2. earliest
3. foremost, most prominent
4. (mathematics) prime

Inflection

    First and second declension of πρῶτος, πρώτη, πρῶτον

Number	Singular				Dual				Plural
Case \ Gender	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter		Masculine	Feminine	Neuter		Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	πρῶτος	πρώτη	πρῶτον		πρώτω	πρώτα	πρώτω		πρῶτοι	πρῶται	πρῶτα
Genitive	πρώτου	πρώτης	πρώτου		πρώτοιν	πρώταιν	πρώτοιν		πρώτων	πρώτων	πρώτων
Dative	πρώτῳ	πρώτῃ	πρώτῳ		πρώτοιν	πρώταιν	πρώτοιν		πρώτοις	πρώταις	πρώτοις
Accusative	πρῶτον	πρώτην	πρῶτον		πρώτω	πρώτα	πρώτω		πρώτους	πρώτας	πρῶτα
Vocative	πρῶτε	πρώτη	πρῶτον		πρώτω	πρώτα	πρώτω		πρῶτοι	πρῶται	πρῶτα

References

• LSJ
• BDAG
• Robert S. P. Beekes (2009) Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Brill Academic Publishers)
• Strong’s concordance number: G4413