ἐΰς

See also: -εύς

Ancient Greek

Alternative forms

• ἠΰς (ēǘs) — Epic

Etymology

Cognate with Mycenaean Greek 𐀁𐀄- (e-u-), of disputed origin:

• Has been connected with Sanskrit सु- (su-) and Hittite 𒀀𒀸𒋗𒍑 (āššuš), which would point to Proto-Indo-European *h₁su- (“good”); this may itself derive from *h₁es- (“to be”).
• A competing theory, however, connects the word with Sanskrit वसु (vásu-), Avestan 𐬬𐬊𐬵𐬎- (vohu-), Illyrian *Vescleves, Middle Irish feb (“eminence”), which would derive from a Proto-Indo-European *h₁wésus (“good”). This theory would be supported by a reading δὲ ἐάων (dè eáōn) in book 24, line 528 of the Iliad, where the lack of elision would suggest an initial *w; however, this reading is late and therefore uncertain.

It is possible that the two competing roots are ultimately related, stemming from a Proto-Indo-European *h₁wes- (“good”); this is debated, however.

Pronunciation

 

• IPA^(key): /e.ýs/ → /eˈys/ → /eˈis/

• (5^th BCE Attic) IPA^(key): /e.ýs/
• (1^st CE Egyptian) IPA^(key): /eˈys/
• (4^th CE Koine) IPA^(key): /eˈys/
• (10^th CE Byzantine) IPA^(key): /eˈys/
• (15^th CE Constantinopolitan) IPA^(key): /eˈis/

Adjective

ἐῠ̈́ς • (eǘs)

1. (poetic) good, brave, noble
   • 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Iliad 2.819:

     Δαρδανίων αὖτ’ ἦρχεν ἐῢς πάϊς Ἀγχῑ́σᾱο Αἰνείᾱς

     Dardaníōn aût’ êrkhen eǜs páïs Ankhī́sāo Aineíās

     Aeneas, the brave son of Anchises, was again captain of the Dardanians.

Inflection

Irregular declension of ἐΰς; —; ἠΰ (Epic)

Number		Singular				Plural
Case/Gender		Masculine	Feminine	Neuter		Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative		ἐΰς / ἠΰς eǘs / ēǘs	—	ἠΰ ēǘ		—	—	ἠέᾰ? ēéa?
Genitive		ἐῆος eêos	—	ἐῆος eêos		ἐᾱ́ων eā́ōn	—	ἐᾱ́ων eā́ōn
Dative		—	—	—		—	—	—
Accusative		ἐΰν / ἠΰν eǘn / ēǘn	—	ἠΰ ēǘ		—	—	ἠέᾰ? ēéa?
Vocative		—	—	ἠΰ ēǘ		—	—	—
Notes:		Dialects other than Attic are not well attested. Some forms may be based on conjecture. Use with caution.

Irregular declension of ἐΰς; —; ἠΰ (Attic)

Number		Singular				Plural
Case/Gender		Masculine	Feminine	Neuter		Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative		ἐΰς eǘs	—	ἠΰ ēǘ		*ἠεῖς *ēeîs	—	*ἠᾶ *ēâ
Genitive		ἐῆος eêos	—	ἐῆος eêos		*ἐῶν *eôn	—	*ἐῶν *eôn
Dative		*ἐῆει *eêei	—	*ἐῆει *eêei		*ἐῆσι / ἐῆσιν *eêsi(n)	—	*ἐῆσι / ἐῆσιν *eêsi(n)
Accusative		ἐΰν eǘn	—	ἠΰ ēǘ		*ἠεῖς *ēeîs	—	*ἠᾶ *ēâ
Vocative		—	—	—		—	—	—
Notes:		This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For declension in other dialects, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal declension.

Synonyms

• ἀγαθός (agathós)

Related terms

• εὖ (eû, “well”)

Further reading

• “ἐΰς”, in Liddell & Scott (1940) A Greek–English Lexicon, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• ἐΰς in Bailly, Anatole (1935) Le Grand Bailly: Dictionnaire grec-français, Paris: Hachette
• ἐΰς in Cunliffe, Richard J. (1924) A Lexicon of the Homeric Dialect: Expanded Edition, Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, published 1963