βασιλεύω

Ancient Greek

Alternative forms

βασιλέω (basiléō)
𐠞𐠪𐠐𐠄𐠵 (pa-si-le-u-wo) — Cypriot

Etymology

From βασιλεύς (basileús, “king”) +‎ -εύω (-eúō).

Pronunciation

(5^th BCE Attic) IPA^(key): /ba.si.lěu̯.ɔː/
(1^st CE Egyptian) IPA^(key): /ba.siˈle.wo/
(4^th CE Koine) IPA^(key): /βa.siˈle.βo/
(10^th CE Medieval) IPA^(key): /va.siˈle.vo/
(15^th CE Constantinopolitan) IPA^(key): /va.siˈle.vo/

Verb

βᾰσῐλεύω • (băsĭleúō)

to be king, to rule, reign as king
- c. 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Iliad 2.203
- c. 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Iliad 9.616
- c. 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Odyssey 2.47
- c. 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Odyssey 22.52
- c. 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Iliad 6.425
- c. 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Odyssey 11.285
- 460 BCE – 430 BCE, Herodotus, Histories 2.2
- c. 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Odyssey 1.401
- c. 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Odyssey 7.59
- c. 130 BCE, 1 Maccabees 1.16
- 375 BCE, Plato, The Republic 576D–E
- 384 BCE – 322 BCE, Aristotle, Politics 1284B.39
- c. 354 BCE, Plato, Laws 680E
- 522 BCE – 443 BCE, Pindar, Pythian Ode 4.106
- 445 BCE – 380 BCE, Lysias, Funeral Oration 19
- 46 CE – 120 CE, Plutarch, Sulla 12
1. (ἡ βασιλεύσουσα πόλις (hē basileúsousa pólis)) the imperial city, Rome
  - c. 200 CE, Athenaeus, Deipnosophistae 3.98C
2. to enjoy as absolute master
  - 300 BCE – 260 BCE, Theocritus, Collected Works 21.60
3. (absolute) to live right royally
  - 46 CE – 120 CE, Plutarch, Moralia 2.101D
  - 53 CE – 55 CE, Paul the Apostle, First Epistle to the Corinthians 4:8
4. (causal) to appoint as king
  - 300 BCE – 200 BCE, Septuagint, Judges 9.6
  - 300 BCE – 200 BCE, 1 Samuel 8.22
  - 300 BCE – 200 BCE, 1 Samuel 12.1

Inflection

Present: βᾰσῐλεύω, βᾰσῐλεύομαι

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	βᾰσῐλεύω	βᾰσῐλεύεις	βᾰσῐλεύει	βᾰσῐλεύετον	βᾰσῐλεύετον	βᾰσῐλεύομεν	βᾰσῐλεύετε	βᾰσῐλεύουσῐ(ν)
	subjunctive	βᾰσῐλεύω	βᾰσῐλεύῃς	βᾰσῐλεύῃ	βᾰσῐλεύητον	βᾰσῐλεύητον	βᾰσῐλεύωμεν	βᾰσῐλεύητε	βᾰσῐλεύωσῐ(ν)
	optative	βᾰσῐλεύοιμῐ	βᾰσῐλεύοις	βᾰσῐλεύοι	βᾰσῐλεύοιτον	βᾰσῐλευοίτην	βᾰσῐλεύοιμεν	βᾰσῐλεύοιτε	βᾰσῐλεύοιεν
	imperative		βᾰσῐ́λευε	βᾰσῐλευέτω	βᾰσῐλεύετον	βᾰσῐλευέτων		βᾰσῐλεύετε	βᾰσῐλευόντων
middle/passive	indicative	βᾰσῐλεύομαι	βᾰσῐλεύῃ, βᾰσῐλεύει	βᾰσῐλεύεται	βᾰσῐλεύεσθον	βᾰσῐλεύεσθον	βᾰσῐλευόμεθᾰ	βᾰσῐλεύεσθε	βᾰσῐλεύονται
	subjunctive	βᾰσῐλεύωμαι	βᾰσῐλεύῃ	βᾰσῐλεύηται	βᾰσῐλεύησθον	βᾰσῐλεύησθον	βᾰσῐλευώμεθᾰ	βᾰσῐλεύησθε	βᾰσῐλεύωνται
	optative	βᾰσῐλευοίμην	βᾰσῐλεύοιο	βᾰσῐλεύοιτο	βᾰσῐλεύοισθον	βᾰσῐλευοίσθην	βᾰσῐλευοίμεθᾰ	βᾰσῐλεύοισθε	βᾰσῐλεύοιντο
	imperative		βᾰσῐλεύου	βᾰσῐλευέσθω	βᾰσῐλεύεσθον	βᾰσῐλευέσθων		βᾰσῐλεύεσθε	βᾰσῐλευέσθων
		active				middle/passive
infinitive		βᾰσῐλεύειν				βᾰσῐλεύεσθαι
participle	m	βᾰσῐλεύων				βᾰσῐλευόμενος
	f	βᾰσῐλεύουσᾰ				βᾰσῐλευομένη
	n	βᾰσῐλεῦον				βᾰσῐλευόμενον
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Imperfect: ἐβᾰσῐ́λευον, ἐβᾰσῐλευόμην

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	ἐβᾰσῐ́λευον	ἐβᾰσῐ́λευες	ἐβᾰσῐ́λευε(ν)	ἐβᾰσῐλεύετον	ἐβᾰσῐλευέτην	ἐβᾰσῐλεύομεν	ἐβᾰσῐλεύετε	ἐβᾰσῐ́λευον
middle/passive	indicative	ἐβᾰσῐλευόμην	ἐβᾰσῐλεύου	ἐβᾰσῐλεύετο	ἐβᾰσῐλεύεσθον	ἐβᾰσῐλευέσθην	ἐβᾰσῐλευόμεθᾰ	ἐβᾰσῐλεύεσθε	ἐβᾰσῐλεύοντο
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Future: βᾰσῐλεύσω, βᾰσῐλεύσομαι, βᾰσῐλευθήσομαι

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	βᾰσῐλεύσω	βᾰσῐλεύσεις	βᾰσῐλεύσει	βᾰσῐλεύσετον	βᾰσῐλεύσετον	βᾰσῐλεύσομεν	βᾰσῐλεύσετε	βᾰσῐλεύσουσῐ(ν)
active	optative	βᾰσῐλεύσοιμῐ	βᾰσῐλεύσοις	βᾰσῐλεύσοι	βᾰσῐλεύσοιτον	βᾰσῐλευσοίτην	βᾰσῐλεύσοιμεν	βᾰσῐλεύσοιτε	βᾰσῐλεύσοιεν
middle	indicative	βᾰσῐλεύσομαι	βᾰσῐλεύσῃ, βᾰσῐλεύσει	βᾰσῐλεύσεται	βᾰσῐλεύσεσθον	βᾰσῐλεύσεσθον	βᾰσῐλευσόμεθᾰ	βᾰσῐλεύσεσθε	βᾰσῐλεύσονται
middle	optative	βᾰσῐλευσοίμην	βᾰσῐλεύσοιο	βᾰσῐλεύσοιτο	βᾰσῐλεύσοισθον	βᾰσῐλευσοίσθην	βᾰσῐλευσοίμεθᾰ	βᾰσῐλεύσοισθε	βᾰσῐλεύσοιντο
passive	indicative	βᾰσῐλευθήσομαι	βᾰσῐλευθήσῃ, βᾰσῐλευθήσει	βᾰσῐλευθήσεται	βᾰσῐλευθήσεσθον	βᾰσῐλευθήσεσθον	βᾰσῐλευθησόμεθᾰ	βᾰσῐλευθήσεσθε	βᾰσῐλευθήσονται
passive	optative	βᾰσῐλευθησοίμην	βᾰσῐλευθήσοιο	βᾰσῐλευθήσοιτο	βᾰσῐλευθήσοισθον	βᾰσῐλευθησοίσθην	βᾰσῐλευθησοίμεθᾰ	βᾰσῐλευθήσοισθε	βᾰσῐλευθήσοιντο
		active			middle		passive
infinitive		βᾰσῐλεύσειν			βᾰσῐλεύσεσθαι		βᾰσῐλευθήσεσθαι
participle	m	βᾰσῐλεύσων			βᾰσῐλευσόμενος		βᾰσῐλευθησόμενος
	f	βᾰσῐλεύσουσᾰ			βᾰσῐλευσομένη		βᾰσῐλευθησομένη
	n	βᾰσῐλεῦσον			βᾰσῐλευσόμενον		βᾰσῐλευθησόμενον
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Aorist: ἐβᾰσῐ́λευσᾰ, ἐβᾰσῐλευσᾰ́μην, ἐβᾰσῐλεύθην

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	ἐβᾰσῐ́λευσᾰ	ἐβᾰσῐ́λευσᾰς	ἐβᾰσῐ́λευσε(ν)	ἐβᾰσῐλεύσᾰτον	ἐβᾰσῐλευσᾰ́την	ἐβᾰσῐλεύσᾰμεν	ἐβᾰσῐλεύσᾰτε	ἐβᾰσῐ́λευσᾰν
	subjunctive	βᾰσῐλεύσω	βᾰσῐλεύσῃς	βᾰσῐλεύσῃ	βᾰσῐλεύσητον	βᾰσῐλεύσητον	βᾰσῐλεύσωμεν	βᾰσῐλεύσητε	βᾰσῐλεύσωσῐ(ν)
	optative	βᾰσῐλεύσαιμῐ	βᾰσῐλεύσειᾰς, βᾰσῐλεύσαις	βᾰσῐλεύσειε(ν), βᾰσῐλεύσαι	βᾰσῐλεύσαιτον	βᾰσῐλευσαίτην	βᾰσῐλεύσαιμεν	βᾰσῐλεύσαιτε	βᾰσῐλεύσειᾰν, βᾰσῐλεύσαιεν
	imperative		βᾰσῐ́λευσον	βᾰσῐλευσᾰ́τω	βᾰσῐλεύσᾰτον	βᾰσῐλευσᾰ́των		βᾰσῐλεύσᾰτε	βᾰσῐλευσᾰ́ντων
middle	indicative	ἐβᾰσῐλευσᾰ́μην	ἐβᾰσῐλεύσω	ἐβᾰσῐλεύσᾰτο	ἐβᾰσῐλεύσᾰσθον	ἐβᾰσῐλευσᾰ́σθην	ἐβᾰσῐλευσᾰ́μεθᾰ	ἐβᾰσῐλεύσᾰσθε	ἐβᾰσῐλεύσᾰντο
	subjunctive	βᾰσῐλεύσωμαι	βᾰσῐλεύσῃ	βᾰσῐλεύσηται	βᾰσῐλεύσησθον	βᾰσῐλεύσησθον	βᾰσῐλευσώμεθᾰ	βᾰσῐλεύσησθε	βᾰσῐλεύσωνται
	optative	βᾰσῐλευσαίμην	βᾰσῐλεύσαιο	βᾰσῐλεύσαιτο	βᾰσῐλεύσαισθον	βᾰσῐλευσαίσθην	βᾰσῐλευσαίμεθᾰ	βᾰσῐλεύσαισθε	βᾰσῐλεύσαιντο
	imperative		βᾰσῐ́λευσαι	βᾰσῐλευσᾰ́σθω	βᾰσῐλεύσᾰσθον	βᾰσῐλευσᾰ́σθων		βᾰσῐλεύσᾰσθε	βᾰσῐλευσᾰ́σθων
passive	indicative	ἐβᾰσῐλεύθην	ἐβᾰσῐλεύθης	ἐβᾰσῐλεύθη	ἐβᾰσῐλεύθητον	ἐβᾰσῐλευθήτην	ἐβᾰσῐλεύθημεν	ἐβᾰσῐλεύθητε	ἐβᾰσῐλεύθησᾰν
	subjunctive	βᾰσῐλευθῶ	βᾰσῐλευθῇς	βᾰσῐλευθῇ	βᾰσῐλευθῆτον	βᾰσῐλευθῆτον	βᾰσῐλευθῶμεν	βᾰσῐλευθῆτε	βᾰσῐλευθῶσῐ(ν)
	optative	βᾰσῐλευθείην	βᾰσῐλευθείης	βᾰσῐλευθείη	βᾰσῐλευθεῖτον, βᾰσῐλευθείητον	βᾰσῐλευθείτην, βᾰσῐλευθειήτην	βᾰσῐλευθεῖμεν, βᾰσῐλευθείημεν	βᾰσῐλευθεῖτε, βᾰσῐλευθείητε	βᾰσῐλευθεῖεν, βᾰσῐλευθείησᾰν
	imperative		βᾰσῐλεύθητῐ	βᾰσῐλευθήτω	βᾰσῐλεύθητον	βᾰσῐλευθήτων		βᾰσῐλεύθητε	βᾰσῐλευθέντων
		active			middle		passive
infinitive		βᾰσῐλεῦσαι			βᾰσῐλεύσᾰσθαι		βᾰσῐλευθῆναι
participle	m	βᾰσῐλεύσᾱς			βᾰσῐλευσᾰ́μενος		βᾰσῐλευθείς
	f	βᾰσῐλεύσᾱσᾰ			βᾰσῐλευσᾰμένη		βᾰσῐλευθεῖσᾰ
	n	βᾰσῐλεῦσᾰν			βᾰσῐλευσᾰ́μενον		βᾰσῐλευθέν
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

References

“βασιλεύω”, in Liddell & Scott (1940), A Greek–English Lexicon, Oxford: Clarendon Press
“βασιλεύω”, in Liddell & Scott (1889), An Intermediate Greek–English Lexicon, New York: Harper & Brothers
“βασιλεύω”, in Autenrieth, Georg (1891), A Homeric Dictionary for Schools and Colleges, New York: Harper and Brothers
“βασιλεύω” in Bailly, Anatole (1935), Le Grand Bailly: Dictionnaire grec-français, Paris: Hachette
βασιλεύω in Cunliffe, Richard J. (1924), A Lexicon of the Homeric Dialect: Expanded Edition, Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, published 1963
“βασιλεύω” in the Diccionario Griego–Español en línea (2006–2026)
“βασιλεύω”, in Slater, William J. (1969), Lexicon to Pindar, Berlin: Walter de Gruyter
Strong, James (1979), “G936”, in Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance to the Bible
βασιλεύω, in ΛΟΓΕΙΟΝ [Logeion] Dictionaries for Ancient Greek and Latin (in English, French, Spanish, German, Dutch and Chinese), University of Chicago, since 2011

Greek

Etymology

Inherited from Ancient Greek βασιλεύω (basileúō). The metaphorical extension to 'sunset' is attested since medieval times.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /va.siˈle.vo/
Hyphenation: βα‧σι‧λεύ‧ω

Verb

βασιλεύω • (vasilévo) (past βασίλεψα, passive —)

(monarchy) to reign, rule (also figurative)
(astronomy) to set, go down, wester (sun, stars, etc)
1. (figuratively) to decline

Conjugation

βασιλεύω (active forms only plus passive perfect participle)

	Active voice ➤
Indicative mood ➤	Imperfective aspect ➤	Perfective aspect ➤
Non-past tenses ➤	Present ➤	Dependent ➤
1 sg	βασιλεύω	βασιλέψω
2 sg	βασιλεύεις	βασιλέψεις
3 sg	βασιλεύει	βασιλέψει

1 pl	βασιλεύουμε, [βασιλεύομε]	βασιλέψουμε, [βασιλέψομε]
2 pl	βασιλεύετε	βασιλέψετε
3 pl	βασιλεύουν(ε)	βασιλέψουν(ε)

Past tenses ➤	Imperfect ➤	Simple past ➤
1 sg	βασίλευα	βασίλεψα
2 sg	βασίλευες	βασίλεψες
3 sg	βασίλευε	βασίλεψε

1 pl	βασιλεύαμε	βασιλέψαμε
2 pl	βασιλεύατε	βασιλέψατε
3 pl	βασίλευαν, βασιλεύαν(ε)	βασίλεψαν, βασιλέψαν(ε)

Future tenses ➤	Continuous ➤	Simple ➤
1 sg	θα βασιλεύω ➤	θα βασιλέψω ➤
2,3 sg, 1,2,3 pl	θα βασιλεύεις, …	θα βασιλέψεις, …

	Perfect aspect ➤
Present perfect ➤	έχω, έχεις, … βασιλέψει	είμαι, είσαι, … βασιλεμένος, ‑η, ‑ο ➤ (also passive voice)
Past perfect ➤	είχα, είχες, … βασιλέψει	ήμουν, ήσουν, … βασιλεμένος, ‑η, ‑ο
Future perfect ➤	θα έχω, θα έχεις, … βασιλέψει	θα είμαι, θα είσαι, … βασιλεμένος, ‑η, ‑ο

Subjunctive mood ➤	Formed using present, dependent (for simple past) or present perfect from above with a particle (να, ας).

Imperative mood ➤	Imperfective aspect	Perfective aspect
2 sg	βασίλευε	βασίλεψε
2 pl	βασιλεύετε	βασιλέψτε

Other forms
Active present participle ➤	declinable {βασιλεύων, βασιλεύουσα, βασιλεύον} indeclinable βασιλεύοντας ➤
Active perfect participle ➤	έχοντας βασιλέψει ➤
Passive perfect participle ➤	passive present participle {βασιλευόμενος, βασιλευομένη/βασιλευόμενη, ‑o} passive perfect participle βασιλεμένος, ‑η, ‑o ➤

Nonfinite form ➤	βασιλέψει


Notes Appendix:Greek verbs	• (…) optional or informal. […] rare. {…} learned, archaic. • Multiple forms are shown in order of reducing frequency. • Periphrastic imperative forms may be produced using the subjunctive.

Synonyms

(sunset, decline): δύω (dýo)

Derived terms

βασιλευομένη δημοκρατία (vasilevoméni dimokratía, “crowned republic”)

Related terms

αβασίλευτος (avasíleftos, “not governed by a monarch”)
βασίλεμα n (vasílema, “sunset”)
βασιλεμένος (vasileménos, “sunsetted”, passive perfect participle)
βασιλευόμενος m (vasilevómenos, “who is reigned”, passive present participle), βασιλευομένη f (vasilevoméni), βασιλευόμενο(ν) (vasilevómeno(n)) (formal)
βασιλεύων m (vasilévon, “reigning”, active present participle), βασιλεύουσα f (vasilévousa), βασιλεύον (vasilévon) (formal)
συμβασιλεύω (symvasilévo, “reign together”)

and see: βασιλιάς m (vasiliás, “king”)