κιχάνω

Ancient Greek

Alternative forms

• κιγχάνω (kinkhánō) — post-Homeric

Etymology

From Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰi-ǵʰn̥h₁-, reduplicated nasal-infix present of the root *ǵʰeh₁- (“to go, walk”). Cognate with Old English gān (English go) and Sanskrit जहाति (jáhāti, “to abandon, avoid”). The reduplicating syllable /ki/ was reinterpreted as part of the root and extended beyond the present and imperfect tenses to the entire conjugation.

Pronunciation

 

• IPA^(key): /ki.kʰǎː.nɔː/ → /ciˈxa.no/ → /ciˈxa.no/

• (5^th BCE Attic) IPA^(key): /ki.kʰǎː.nɔː/
• (1^st CE Egyptian) IPA^(key): /kiˈkʰa.no/
• (4^th CE Koine) IPA^(key): /ciˈxa.no/
• (10^th CE Byzantine) IPA^(key): /ciˈxa.no/
• (15^th CE Constantinopolitan) IPA^(key): /ciˈxa.no/

Verb

κῐχᾱ́νω • (kikhā́nō) (poetic)

1. to overtake
2. to come upon, find
3. to catch, grip, hit
   • 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Odyssey 12.122:

     δείδω μή σ᾽ ἐξαῦτις ἐφορμηθεῖσα κίχῃσι / τόσσῃσιν κεφαλῇσι, τόσους δ᾽ ἐκ φῶτας ἕληται

     deídō mḗ s᾽ exaûtis ephormētheîsa kíkhēisi / tóssēisin kephalêisi, tósous d᾽ ek phôtas hélētai

     I fear that [Scylla] will be incited to reach out for you a second time with her heads to catch as many men again

Conjugation

   Present: κῐχᾱ́νω, κῐχᾱ́νομαι (Epic)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	κῐχᾱ́νω	κῐχᾱ́νεις	κῐχᾱ́νει	κῐχᾱ́νετον	κῐχᾱ́νετον	κῐχᾱ́νομεν	κῐχᾱ́νετε	κῐχᾱ́νουσῐ(ν)
	subjunctive	κῐχᾱ́νω, κῐχᾱ́νωμῐ	κῐχᾱ́νῃς, κῐχᾱ́νῃσθᾰ	κῐχᾱ́νῃ, κῐχᾱ́νῃσῐ	κῐχᾱ́νητον	κῐχᾱ́νητον	κῐχᾱ́νωμεν	κῐχᾱ́νητε	κῐχᾱ́νωσῐ(ν)
	optative	κῐχᾱ́νοιμῐ	κῐχᾱ́νοισ(θᾰ)	κῐχᾱ́νοι	κῐχᾱ́νοιτον	κῐχᾱνοίτην	κῐχᾱ́νοιμεν	κῐχᾱ́νοιτε	κῐχᾱ́νοιεν
	imperative		κῐ́χᾱνε	κῐχᾱνέτω	κῐχᾱ́νετον	κῐχᾱνέτων		κῐχᾱ́νετε	κῐχᾱνόντων
middle/ passive	indicative	κῐχᾱ́νομαι	κῐχᾱ́νεαι	κῐχᾱ́νεται	κῐχᾱ́νεσθον	κῐχᾱ́νεσθον	κῐχᾱνόμε(σ)θᾰ	κῐχᾱ́νεσθε	κῐχᾱ́νονται
	subjunctive	κῐχᾱ́νωμαι	κῐχᾱ́νηαι	κῐχᾱ́νηται	κῐχᾱ́νησθον	κῐχᾱ́νησθον	κῐχᾱνώμε(σ)θᾰ	κῐχᾱ́νησθε	κῐχᾱ́νωνται
	optative	κῐχᾱνοίμην	κῐχᾱ́νοιο	κῐχᾱ́νοιτο	κῐχᾱ́νοισθον	κῐχᾱνοίσθην	κῐχᾱνοίμε(σ)θᾰ	κῐχᾱ́νοισθε	κῐχᾱνοίᾰτο
	imperative		κῐχᾱ́νεο	κῐχᾱνέσθω	κῐχᾱ́νεσθον	κῐχᾱνέσθων		κῐχᾱ́νεσθε	κῐχᾱνέσθων
		active				middle/passive
infinitive		κῐχᾱ́νειν/κῐχᾱνέμεν(αι)/κῐχᾱνμέναι				κῐχᾱ́νεσθαι
participle	m	κῐχᾱ́νων				κῐχᾱνόμενος
	f	κῐχᾱ́νουσᾰ				κῐχᾱνομένη
	n	κῐχᾶνον				κῐχᾱνόμενον
Notes:	Dialects other than Attic are not well attested. Some forms are based on conjecture. Use with caution. For more details, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Imperfect: ἐκῐ́χᾱνον, ἐκῐχᾱνόμην (Epic)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	ἐκῐ́χᾱνον	ἐκῐ́χᾱνες	ἐκῐ́χᾱνε(ν)	ἐκῐχᾱ́νετον	ἐκῐχᾱνέτην	ἐκῐχᾱ́νομεν	ἐκῐχᾱ́νετε	ἐκῐ́χᾱνον
middle/ passive	indicative	ἐκῐχᾱνόμην	ἐκῐχᾱ́νου	ἐκῐχᾱ́νετο	ἐκῐχᾱ́νεσθον	ἐκῐχᾱνέσθην	ἐκῐχᾱνόμε(σ)θᾰ	ἐκῐχᾱ́νεσθε	ἐκῐχᾱ́νοντο
Notes:	Dialects other than Attic are not well attested. Some forms are based on conjecture. Use with caution. For more details, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Future: κῐχήσω, κῐχήσομαι (Epic)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	κῐχήσω	κῐχήσεις	κῐχήσει	κῐχήσετον	κῐχήσετον	κῐχήσομεν	κῐχήσετε	κῐχήσουσῐ(ν)
	optative	κῐχήσοιμῐ	κῐχήσοισ(θᾰ)	κῐχήσοι	κῐχήσοιτον	κῐχησοίτην	κῐχήσοιμεν	κῐχήσοιτε	κῐχήσοιεν
middle	indicative	κῐχήσομαι	κῐχήσεαι	κῐχήσεται	κῐχήσεσθον	κῐχήσεσθον	κῐχησόμε(σ)θᾰ	κῐχήσεσθε	κῐχήσονται
	optative	κῐχησοίμην	κῐχήσοιο	κῐχήσοιτο	κῐχήσοισθον	κῐχησοίσθην	κῐχησοίμε(σ)θᾰ	κῐχήσοισθε	κῐχησοίᾰτο
		active			middle
infinitive		κῐχήσειν/κῐχησέμεν(αι)/κῐχησμέναι			κῐχήσεσθαι
participle	m	κῐχήσων			κῐχησόμενος
	f	κῐχήσουσᾰ			κῐχησομένη
	n	κῐχῆσον			κῐχησόμενον
Notes:	Dialects other than Attic are not well attested. Some forms are based on conjecture. Use with caution. For more details, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Aorist: ἐκῐ́χησᾰ, ἐκῐχησᾰ́μην (Epic)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	ἐκῐ́χησᾰ	ἐκῐ́χησᾰς	ἐκῐ́χησε(ν)	ἐκῐχήσᾰτον	ἐκῐχησᾰ́την	ἐκῐχήσᾰμεν	ἐκῐχήσᾰτε	ἐκῐ́χησᾰν
	subjunctive	κῐχήσω, κῐχήσωμῐ	κῐχήσῃς, κῐχήσῃσθᾰ	κῐχήσῃ, κῐχήσῃσῐ	κῐχήσητον	κῐχήσητον	κῐχήσωμεν	κῐχήσητε	κῐχήσωσῐ(ν)
	optative	κῐχήσαιμῐ	κῐχήσαις, κῐχήσαισθᾰ, κῐχήσειᾰς	κῐχήσειε(ν), κῐχήσαι	κῐχησεῖτον	κῐχησείτην	κῐχησεῖμεν	κῐχησεῖτε	κῐχησεῖεν
	imperative		κῐ́χησον	κῐχησᾰ́τω	κῐχήσᾰτον	κῐχησᾰ́των		κῐχήσᾰτε	κῐχησᾰ́ντων
middle	indicative	ἐκῐχησᾰ́μην	ἐκῐχήσᾰο	ἐκῐχήσᾰτο	ἐκῐχήσᾰσθον	ἐκῐχησᾰ́σθην	ἐκῐχησᾰ́με(σ)θᾰ	ἐκῐχήσᾰσθε	ἐκῐχήσᾰντο
	subjunctive	κῐχήσωμαι	κῐχήσηαι	κῐχήσηται	κῐχήσησθον	κῐχήσησθον	κῐχησώμε(σ)θᾰ	κῐχήσησθε	κῐχήσωνται
	optative	κῐχησαίμην	κῐχήσαιο	κῐχήσαιτο	κῐχήσαισθον	κῐχησαίσθην	κῐχησαίμε(σ)θᾰ	κῐχήσαισθε	κῐχησαίᾰτο
	imperative		κῐ́χησαι	κῐχησᾰ́σθω	κῐχήσᾰσθον	κῐχησᾰ́σθων		κῐχήσᾰσθε	κῐχησᾰ́σθων
		active			middle
infinitive		κῐχῆσαι/κῐχησᾰ́μεν/κῐχησᾰμέναι			κῐχήσᾰσθαι
participle	m	κῐχήσᾱς			κῐχησᾰ́μενος
	f	κῐχήσᾱσᾰ			κῐχησᾰμένη
	n	κῐχῆσᾰν			κῐχησᾰ́μενον
Notes:	Dialects other than Attic are not well attested. Some forms are based on conjecture. Use with caution. For more details, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Aorist: κῐ́χησᾰ, κῐχησᾰ́μην (Epic)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	κῐ́χησᾰ	κῐ́χησᾰς	κῐ́χησε(ν)	κῐχήσᾰτον	κῐχησᾰ́την	κῐχήσᾰμεν	κῐχήσᾰτε	κῐ́χησᾰν
middle	indicative	κῐχησᾰ́μην	κῐχήσᾰο	κῐχήσᾰτο	κῐχήσᾰσθον	κῐχησᾰ́σθην	κῐχησᾰ́με(σ)θᾰ	κῐχήσᾰσθε	κῐχήσᾰντο
Notes:	Dialects other than Attic are not well attested. Some forms are based on conjecture. Use with caution. For more details, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Aorist: ἔκῐχον, ἐκῐχόμην (Epic)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	ἔκῐχον	ἔκῐχες	ἔκῐχε(ν)	ἐκῐ́χετον	ἐκῐχέτην	ἐκῐ́χομεν	ἐκῐ́χετε	ἔκῐχον
	subjunctive	κῐ́χω, κῐ́χωμῐ	κῐ́χῃς, κῐ́χῃσθᾰ	κῐ́χῃ, κῐ́χῃσῐ	κῐ́χητον	κῐ́χητον	κῐ́χωμεν	κῐ́χητε	κῐ́χωσῐ(ν)
	optative	κῐ́χοιμῐ	κῐ́χοις/κῐ́χοισθᾰ	κῐ́χοι	κῐχεῖτον	κῐχείτην	κῐχεῖμεν	κῐχεῖτε	κῐχεῖεν
	imperative		κῐ́χε	κῐχέτω	κῐ́χετον	κῐχέτων		κῐ́χετε	κῐχόντων
middle	indicative	ἐκῐχόμην	ἐκῐ́χεο	ἐκῐ́χετο	ἐκῐ́χεσθον	ἐκῐχέσθην	ἐκῐχόμε(σ)θᾰ	ἐκῐ́χεσθε	ἐκῐ́χοντο
	subjunctive	κῐ́χωμαι	κῐ́χηαι	κῐ́χηται	κῐ́χησθον	κῐ́χησθον	κῐχώμε(σ)θᾰ	κῐ́χησθε	κῐ́χωνται
	optative	κῐχοίμην	κῐ́χοιο	κῐ́χοιτο	κῐ́χοισθον	κῐχοίσθην	κῐχοίμε(σ)θᾰ	κῐ́χοισθε	κῐχοίᾰτο
	imperative		κῐ́χεο	κῐχέσθω	κῐ́χεσθον	κῐχέσθων		κῐ́χεσθε	κῐχέσθων
		active			middle
infinitive		κῐχεῖν/κῐχέμεν(αι)			κῐχέσθαι
participle	m	κῐχών			κῐχόμενος
	f	κῐχοῦσᾰ			κῐχομένη
	n	κῐχόν			κῐχόμενον
Notes:	Dialects other than Attic are not well attested. Some forms are based on conjecture. Use with caution. For more details, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Aorist: κῐ́χον, κῐχόμην (Epic)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	κῐ́χον	κῐ́χες	κῐ́χε(ν)	κῐ́χετον	κῐχέτην	κῐ́χομεν	κῐ́χετε	κῐ́χον
middle	indicative	κῐχόμην	κῐ́χεο	κῐ́χετο	κῐ́χεσθον	κῐχέσθην	κῐχόμε(σ)θᾰ	κῐ́χεσθε	κῐ́χοντο
Notes:	Dialects other than Attic are not well attested. Some forms are based on conjecture. Use with caution. For more details, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Aorist: ἐκῐ́χην, ἐκῐχήμην (Epic)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	ἐκῐ́χην	ἐκῐ́χεις			κῐχήτην	ἐκῐ́χημεν / κῐ́χημεν
	subjunctive	κῐχείω					κῐχείομεν
	optative	κῐχείην
	imperative
middle	indicative	ἐκῐχήμην	ἐκῐ́χηο	ἐκῐ́χητο	ἐκῐ́χησθον	ἐκῐχήσθην	ἐκῐχήμε(σ)θᾰ	ἐκῐ́χησθε	ἐκῐ́χηντο
	subjunctive
	optative	κῐχῄμην	κῐχῇο	κῐχῇτο	κῐχῇσθον	κῐχῄσθην	κῐχῄμε(σ)θᾰ	κῐχῇσθε	κῐχῄᾰτο
	imperative		κῐ́χηο	κῐχήσθω	κῐ́χησθον	κῐχήσθων		κῐ́χησθε	κῐχήσθων
		active			middle
infinitive		κῐχῆναι / κῐχήμεναι			κῐ́χησθαι
participle	m	κῐχείς			κῐχήμενος
	f	κῐχέσσᾰ			κῐχημένη
	n	κῐχέν			κῐχήμενον
Notes:	Dialects other than Attic are not well attested. Some forms are based on conjecture. Use with caution. For more details, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Further reading

• “κιχάνω”, in Autenrieth, Georg (1891) A Homeric Dictionary for Schools and Colleges, New York: Harper and Brothers
• κιχάνω in Bailly, Anatole (1935) Le Grand Bailly: Dictionnaire grec-français, Paris: Hachette
• κιχάνω in Cunliffe, Richard J. (1924) A Lexicon of the Homeric Dialect: Expanded Edition, Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, published 1963
• “κιχάνω”, in Liddell & Scott (1940) A Greek–English Lexicon, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• “κιχάνω”, in Slater, William J. (1969) Lexicon to Pindar, Berlin: Walter de Gruyter