φοῖνιξ

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 Ancient Greek 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Noun 1.3.1 Inflection 1.3.2 References

[edit] Ancient Greek

[edit] Etymology

The etymology surrounding all senses remains somewhat unclear. The fact that the dye came exclusively from Phoenicia assures some connection. However, it is unclear if it comes from native Greek or is a Phoenician loanword. Some scholars have argued that φοῖνιξ in the sense of the mythical bird is an adaptation of Egyptian bnw, but others have argued for a Semitic source (possibly Phoenician), perhaps related to the the "dye" sense and the bird's red plumage. It has been argued both that the name of the tree derives from the bird and vice versa. Whatever the case, the word reaches back to the Mycenaean era, as evidenced by 𐀡𐀛𐀐 & 𐀡𐀛𐀑𐀠 (most likely date palm).

[edit] Pronunciation

• (Classical): IPA: [pʰó͜ɪ̀nikʰs]

• (Koine): IPA: [pʰˈyːnikʰs]

• (Byzantine): IPA: [ɸˈyniks]

[edit] Noun

φοῖνιξ (genitive φοίνικος) m, third declension; (phoiniks)

1. purple or crimson
2. palm tree
3. date (the fruit of the date palm)
4. phoenix, the mythical bird derived from Egyptian mythology
5. A guitar-like instrument invented by the Phoenicians

[edit] Inflection

[edit] References

• LSJ
• BDAG

Strong’s concordance number: G5404