χρίω

Ancient Greek

Etymology

From Proto-Indo-European *gʰrey(H)- (“to smear, strike”), which is perhaps extended from *gʰer- (“to rub”). Potential cognates are uncertain, but include Phrygian γεγρειμεναν (gegreimenan, “painted, adorned, written”), Lithuanian griẽti (“to skim (cream from milk)”), English grime. See also χρῶμα (khrôma, “complexion, color”).

Pronunciation

 

• IPA^(key): /kʰrǐː.ɔː/ → /ˈxri.o/ → /ˈxri.o/

• (5^th BCE Attic) IPA^(key): /kʰrǐː.ɔː/
• (1^st CE Egyptian) IPA^(key): /ˈkʰri.o/
• (4^th CE Koine) IPA^(key): /ˈxri.o/
• (10^th CE Byzantine) IPA^(key): /ˈxri.o/
• (15^th CE Constantinopolitan) IPA^(key): /ˈxri.o/

Verb

χρῑ́ω • (khrī́ō)

1. to rub or smear (especially the body) with oil or unguents; to anoint
   • c. 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Odyssey 6.97–98:

     ...χρῑσάμεναι λίπ’ ἐλαίῳ...

     ...khrīsámenai líp’ elaíōi...

     after they bathed and anointed themselves with olive oil

   • c. 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Iliad 23.186:

     χρῖεν ἐλαίῳ

     khrîen elaíōi

     he anointed (the body) with oil

   • 80 BCE – 20 BCE, Diodorus Siculus, 4 51:

     τὰς μὲν τρίχας δυνάμεσί τισι χρίσασαν ποιῆσαι πολιάς

     tàs mèn tríkhas dunámesí tisi khrísasan poiêsai poliás

     she anointed her hair with certain potent substances and made it grey

2. to coat or smear; to apply (e.g. dye, pitch, resin, asphalt)
   • Jos., Ant. 2.220–221:

     ἔπειτα χρίσαντες ἀσφάλτῳ

     épeita khrísantes aspháltōi

     then, after coating it with bitumen

   • c. 370 BCE, Xenophon, Cyropaedia 7.5.22:

     ἀσφάλτῳ δὲ ὑπεκκαύματι κεχριμέναι

     aspháltōi dè hupekkaúmati kekhriménai

     and smeared with bituminous resin

   • 484 BCE – 425 BCE, Herodotus, 4 189.2:

     κεχρισμένας ἐρευθεδάνῳ

     kekhrisménas ereuthedánōi

     smeared with red ochre

   • 484 BCE – 425 BCE, Herodotus, 4 195.2–5:

     πτεροῖσι ὀρνίθων κεχρισμένοισι πίσσῃ

     pteroîsi orníthōn kekhrisménoisi píssēi

     with the wings of birds smeared with pitch

3. (middle voice) to anoint oneself, commonly with oil or medicinal substances
   • c. 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Odyssey 6.96–98:

     αἱ δὲ λοεσσάμεναι καὶ χρīσάμεναι λίπ’ ἐλαίῳ
     δεῖπνον ἔπειθ’ εἵλοντο παρ’ ὄχθῃσιν ποταμοῖο,

     hai dè loessámenai kaì khrīsámenai líp’ elaíōi
     deîpnon épeith’ heílonto par’ ókhthēisin potamoîo,

     After they bathed and anointed themselves richly with olive oil,
     they then took lunch on the banks of the river,

   • 80 BCE – 20 BCE, Diodorus Siculus, 1 23:

     Ἰάσων δὲ τοῦτο ἀκούσας καὶ χρισάμενος τῷ φαρμάκῳ

     Iásōn dè toûto akoúsas kaì khrisámenos tōî pharmákōi

     Jason, having heard this and anointed himself with the drug

     (i.e. φάρμακον here refers to a magical–medicinal substance applied topically)

4. (biblical, in the Septuagint) to anoint ceremonially as a sign of consecration (e.g. king, priest, prophet)
   • 300 BCE – 200 BCE, Septuagint, 2 Kings 9.3:

     τάδε λέγει Κύριος· κέχρικά σε εἰς βασιλέα ἐπὶ Ἰσραήλ·

     táde légei Kúrios; kékhriká se eis basiléa epì Israḗl;

     The Lord says this: I have anointed you as king over Israel.

5. (poetic) to sting, prick, or graze on the surface
   • 525 BCE – 455 BCE, Aeschylus, Prometheus Bound 675:

     ὀξυστόμῳ μύωπι χρισθεῖσ᾽

     oxustómōi múōpi khristheîs’

     stung by a sharp-mouthed gadfly

   • 525 BCE – 455 BCE, Aeschylus, Prometheus Bound 592–594:

     θεόσυτόν τε νόσον ὠνόμασας, Ἃ μαραίνει με χρίουσα κέντροισι φοιταλέοισιν

     theósutón te nóson ōnómasas, Hà maraínei me khríousa kéntroisi phoitaléoisin

     and you named my god-sent affliction, which withers me, stinging me with wandering barbs

Inflection

   Present: χρῑ́ω, χρῑ́ομαι

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	χρῑ́ω	χρῑ́εις	χρῑ́ει	χρῑ́ετον	χρῑ́ετον	χρῑ́ομεν	χρῑ́ετε	χρῑ́ουσῐ(ν)
	subjunctive	χρῑ́ω	χρῑ́ῃς	χρῑ́ῃ	χρῑ́ητον	χρῑ́ητον	χρῑ́ωμεν	χρῑ́ητε	χρῑ́ωσῐ(ν)
	optative	χρῑ́οιμῐ	χρῑ́οις	χρῑ́οι	χρῑ́οιτον	χρῑοίτην	χρῑ́οιμεν	χρῑ́οιτε	χρῑ́οιεν
	imperative		χρῖε	χρῑέτω	χρῑ́ετον	χρῑέτων		χρῑ́ετε	χρῑόντων
middle/passive	indicative	χρῑ́ομαι	χρῑ́ῃ, χρῑ́ει	χρῑ́εται	χρῑ́εσθον	χρῑ́εσθον	χρῑόμεθᾰ	χρῑ́εσθε	χρῑ́ονται
	subjunctive	χρῑ́ωμαι	χρῑ́ῃ	χρῑ́ηται	χρῑ́ησθον	χρῑ́ησθον	χρῑώμεθᾰ	χρῑ́ησθε	χρῑ́ωνται
	optative	χρῑοίμην	χρῑ́οιο	χρῑ́οιτο	χρῑ́οισθον	χρῑοίσθην	χρῑοίμεθᾰ	χρῑ́οισθε	χρῑ́οιντο
	imperative		χρῑ́ου	χρῑέσθω	χρῑ́εσθον	χρῑέσθων		χρῑ́εσθε	χρῑέσθων
		active				middle/passive
infinitive		χρῑ́ειν				χρῑ́εσθαι
participle	m	χρῑ́ων				χρῑόμενος
	f	χρῑ́ουσᾰ				χρῑομένη
	n	χρῖον				χρῑόμενον
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Imperfect: ἔχρῑον, ἐχρῑόμην

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	ἔχρῑον	ἔχρῑες	ἔχρῑε(ν)	ἐχρῑ́ετον	ἐχρῑέτην	ἐχρῑ́ομεν	ἐχρῑ́ετε	ἔχρῑον
middle/passive	indicative	ἐχρῑόμην	ἐχρῑ́ου	ἐχρῑ́ετο	ἐχρῑ́εσθον	ἐχρῑέσθην	ἐχρῑόμεθᾰ	ἐχρῑ́εσθε	ἐχρῑ́οντο
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Imperfect: χρῖον, χρῑόμην (Epic)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	χρῖον	χρῖες	χρῖε(ν)	χρῑ́ετον	χρῑέτην	χρῑ́ομεν	χρῑ́ετε	χρῖον
middle/passive	indicative	χρῑόμην	χρῑ́εο, χρῑ́ευ	χρῑ́ετο	χρῑ́εσθον	χρῑέσθην	χρῑόμε(σ)θᾰ	χρῑ́εσθε	χρῑ́οντο
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: χρῑ́σω, χρῑ́σομαι

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	χρῑ́σω	χρῑ́σεις	χρῑ́σει	χρῑ́σετον	χρῑ́σετον	χρῑ́σομεν	χρῑ́σετε	χρῑ́σουσῐ(ν)
	optative	χρῑ́σοιμῐ	χρῑ́σοις	χρῑ́σοι	χρῑ́σοιτον	χρῑσοίτην	χρῑ́σοιμεν	χρῑ́σοιτε	χρῑ́σοιεν
middle	indicative	χρῑ́σομαι	χρῑ́σῃ, χρῑ́σει	χρῑ́σεται	χρῑ́σεσθον	χρῑ́σεσθον	χρῑσόμεθᾰ	χρῑ́σεσθε	χρῑ́σονται
	optative	χρῑσοίμην	χρῑ́σοιο	χρῑ́σοιτο	χρῑ́σοισθον	χρῑσοίσθην	χρῑσοίμεθᾰ	χρῑ́σοισθε	χρῑ́σοιντο
		active			middle
infinitive		χρῑ́σειν			χρῑ́σεσθαι
participle	m	χρῑ́σων			χρῑσόμενος
	f	χρῑ́σουσᾰ			χρῑσομένη
	n	χρῖσον			χρῑσόμενον
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Aorist: ἔχρῑσᾰ, ἐχρῑσᾰ́μην, ἐχρῑ́σθην

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	ἔχρῑσᾰ	ἔχρῑσᾰς	ἔχρῑσε(ν)	ἐχρῑ́σᾰτον	ἐχρῑσᾰ́την	ἐχρῑ́σᾰμεν	ἐχρῑ́σᾰτε	ἔχρῑσᾰν
	subjunctive	χρῑ́σω	χρῑ́σῃς	χρῑ́σῃ	χρῑ́σητον	χρῑ́σητον	χρῑ́σωμεν	χρῑ́σητε	χρῑ́σωσῐ(ν)
	optative	χρῑ́σαιμῐ	χρῑ́σειᾰς, χρῑ́σαις	χρῑ́σειε(ν), χρῑ́σαι	χρῑ́σαιτον	χρῑσαίτην	χρῑ́σαιμεν	χρῑ́σαιτε	χρῑ́σειᾰν, χρῑ́σαιεν
	imperative		χρῖσον	χρῑσᾰ́τω	χρῑ́σᾰτον	χρῑσᾰ́των		χρῑ́σᾰτε	χρῑσᾰ́ντων
middle	indicative	ἐχρῑσᾰ́μην	ἐχρῑ́σω	ἐχρῑ́σᾰτο	ἐχρῑ́σᾰσθον	ἐχρῑσᾰ́σθην	ἐχρῑσᾰ́μεθᾰ	ἐχρῑ́σᾰσθε	ἐχρῑ́σᾰντο
	subjunctive	χρῑ́σωμαι	χρῑ́σῃ	χρῑ́σηται	χρῑ́σησθον	χρῑ́σησθον	χρῑσώμεθᾰ	χρῑ́σησθε	χρῑ́σωνται
	optative	χρῑσαίμην	χρῑ́σαιο	χρῑ́σαιτο	χρῑ́σαισθον	χρῑσαίσθην	χρῑσαίμεθᾰ	χρῑ́σαισθε	χρῑ́σαιντο
	imperative		χρῖσαι	χρῑσᾰ́σθω	χρῑ́σᾰσθον	χρῑσᾰ́σθων		χρῑ́σᾰσθε	χρῑσᾰ́σθων
passive	indicative	ἐχρῑ́σθην	ἐχρῑ́σθης	ἐχρῑ́σθη	ἐχρῑ́σθητον	ἐχρῑσθήτην	ἐχρῑ́σθημεν	ἐχρῑ́σθητε	ἐχρῑ́σθησᾰν
	subjunctive	χρῑσθῶ	χρῑσθῇς	χρῑσθῇ	χρῑσθῆτον	χρῑσθῆτον	χρῑσθῶμεν	χρῑσθῆτε	χρῑσθῶσῐ(ν)
	optative	χρῑσθείην	χρῑσθείης	χρῑσθείη	χρῑσθεῖτον, χρῑσθείητον	χρῑσθείτην, χρῑσθειήτην	χρῑσθεῖμεν, χρῑσθείημεν	χρῑσθεῖτε, χρῑσθείητε	χρῑσθεῖεν, χρῑσθείησᾰν
	imperative		χρῑ́σθητῐ	χρῑσθήτω	χρῑ́σθητον	χρῑσθήτων		χρῑ́σθητε	χρῑσθέντων
		active			middle		passive
infinitive		χρῖσαι			χρῑ́σᾰσθαι		χρῑσθῆναι
participle	m	χρῑ́σᾱς			χρῑσᾰ́μενος		χρῑσθείς
	f	χρῑ́σᾱσᾰ			χρῑσᾰμένη		χρῑσθεῖσᾰ
	n	χρῖσᾰν			χρῑσᾰ́μενον		χρῑσθέν
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Aorist: χρῖσᾰ, χρῑσᾰ́μην (Epic)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	χρῖσᾰ	χρῖσᾰς	χρῖσε(ν)	χρῑ́σᾰτον	χρῑσᾰ́την	χρῑ́σᾰμεν	χρῑ́σᾰτε	χρῖσᾰν
middle	indicative	χρῑσᾰ́μην	χρῑ́σᾰο	χρῑ́σᾰτο	χρῑ́σᾰσθον	χρῑσᾰ́σθην	χρῑσᾰ́με(σ)θᾰ	χρῑ́σᾰσθε	χρῑ́σᾰντο
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.

   Perfect: κέχρῑκᾰ, κέχρῑμαι

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	κέχρῑκᾰ	κέχρῑκᾰς	κέχρῑκε(ν)	κεχρῑ́κᾰτον	κεχρῑ́κᾰτον	κεχρῑ́κᾰμεν	κεχρῑ́κᾰτε	κεχρῑ́κᾱσῐ(ν)
	subjunctive	κεχρῑ́κω	κεχρῑ́κῃς	κεχρῑ́κῃ	κεχρῑ́κητον	κεχρῑ́κητον	κεχρῑ́κωμεν	κεχρῑ́κητε	κεχρῑ́κωσῐ(ν)
	optative	κεχρῑ́κοιμῐ, κεχρῑκοίην	κεχρῑ́κοις, κεχρῑκοίης	κεχρῑ́κοι, κεχρῑκοίη	κεχρῑ́κοιτον	κεχρῑκοίτην	κεχρῑ́κοιμεν	κεχρῑ́κοιτε	κεχρῑ́κοιεν
	imperative		κέχρῑκε	κεχρῑκέτω	κεχρῑ́κετον	κεχρῑκέτων		κεχρῑ́κετε	κεχρῑκόντων
middle/passive	indicative	κέχρῑμαι	κέχρῑσαι	κέχρῑται	κέχρῑσθον	κέχρῑσθον	κεχρῑ́μεθᾰ	κέχρῑσθε	κέχρῑνται
	subjunctive	κεχρῑμένος ὦ	κεχρῑμένος ᾖς	κεχρῑμένος ᾖ	κεχρῑμένω ἦτον	κεχρῑμένω ἦτον	κεχρῑμένοι ὦμεν	κεχρῑμένοι ἦτε	κεχρῑμένοι ὦσῐ(ν)
	optative	κεχρῑμένος εἴην	κεχρῑμένος εἴης	κεχρῑμένος εἴη	κεχρῑμένω εἴητον, εἶτον	κεχρῑμένω εἰήτην, εἴτην	κεχρῑμένοι εἴημεν, εἶμεν	κεχρῑμένοι εἴητε, εἶτε	κεχρῑμένοι εἴησᾰν, εἶεν
	imperative		κέχρῑσο	κεχρῑ́σθω	κέχρῑσθον	κεχρῑ́σθων		κέχρῑσθε	κεχρῑ́σθων
		active				middle/passive
infinitive		κεχρῑκέναι				κεχρῖσθαι
participle	m	κεχρῑκώς				κεχρῑμένος
	f	κεχρῑκυῖᾰ				κεχρῑμένη
	n	κεχρῑκός				κεχρῑμένον
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Perfect: κέχρῑσμαι

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
middle/passive	indicative	κέχρῑσμαι	κέχρῑσαι	κέχρῑσται	κέχρῑσθον	κέχρῑσθον	κεχρῑ́σμεθᾰ	κέχρῑσθε	κεχρῑ́σᾰται
	subjunctive	κεχρῑσμένος ὦ	κεχρῑσμένος ᾖς	κεχρῑσμένος ᾖ	κεχρῑσμένω ἦτον	κεχρῑσμένω ἦτον	κεχρῑσμένοι ὦμεν	κεχρῑσμένοι ἦτε	κεχρῑσμένοι ὦσῐ(ν)
	optative	κεχρῑσμένος εἴην	κεχρῑσμένος εἴης	κεχρῑσμένος εἴη	κεχρῑσμένω εἴητον, εἶτον	κεχρῑσμένω εἰήτην, εἴτην	κεχρῑσμένοι εἴημεν, εἶμεν	κεχρῑσμένοι εἴητε, εἶτε	κεχρῑσμένοι εἴησᾰν, εἶεν
	imperative		κέχρῑσο	κεχρῑ́σθω	κέχρῑσθον	κεχρῑ́σθων		κέχρῑσθε	κεχρῑ́σθων
						middle/passive
infinitive						κεχρῖσθαι
participle	m					κεχρῑσμένος
	f					κεχρῑσμένη
	n					κεχρῑσμένον
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Pluperfect: ἐκεχρῑ́μην

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
middle/passive	indicative	ἐκεχρῑ́μην	ἐκέχρῑσο	ἐκέχρῑτο	ἐκέχρῑσθον	ἐκεχρῑ́σθην	ἐκεχρῑ́μεθᾰ	ἐκέχρῑσθε	ἐκέχρῑντο
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Synonyms

• (anoint, anoint oneself): ἀλείφω (aleíphō)

Derived terms

• χρῖμα (khrîma)/ χρῖσμα (khrîsma)/ χρισμός (khrismós)
• χρῖσις (khrîsis)
• χρῑστός (khrīstós)
• χρίσιμος (khrísimos)

Related terms

• ἐγχρίω (enkhríō), ἔγχρισις (énkhrisis), ἔγχρισμα (énkhrisma)
• ἐπιχρίω (epikhríō), ἐπίχρισις (epíkhrisis), ἐπίχρισμα (epíkhrisma)
• καταχρίω (katakhríō), κατάχρισις (katákhrisis), κατάχρισμα (katákhrisma)
• περιχρίω (perikhríō), περίχρισις (períkhrisis), περίχρισμα (períkhrisma)
• ἀναχρίω (anakhríō), ἀνάχρισις (anákhrisis)
• συγχρίω (sunkhríō), συγχρῖσις (sunkhrîsis), σύγχρισμα (súnkhrisma)
• διαχρίω (diakhríō), διάχρισις (diákhrisis), διάχρισμα (diákhrisma)
• ὑποχρίω (hupokhríō), ὑπόχρισις (hupókhrisis)
• παραχρίω (parakhríō), παράχρισις (parákhrisis), παράχρισμα (parákhrisma)
• ἀποχρίω (apokhríō)
• ἔγχριστος (énkhristos)
• ἐπίχριστος (epíkhristos)
• κατάχριστος (katákhristos)
• περίχριστος (períkhristos)

See also

• ἔλαιον (élaion)

Further reading

• “χρίω”, in Liddell & Scott (1940), A Greek–English Lexicon, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• “χρίω”, in Liddell & Scott (1889), An Intermediate Greek–English Lexicon, New York: Harper & Brothers
• “χρίω”, in Autenrieth, Georg (1891), A Homeric Dictionary for Schools and Colleges, New York: Harper and Brothers
• χρίω in Cunliffe, Richard J. (1924), A Lexicon of the Homeric Dialect: Expanded Edition, Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, published 1963
• “χρίω”, in Slater, William J. (1969), Lexicon to Pindar, Berlin: Walter de Gruyter
• G5548 in Strong, James (1979), Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance to the Bible
• Pokorny, Julius (1959), Indogermanisches etymologisches Wörterbuch [Indo-European Etymological Dictionary] (in German), volume 2, Bern, München: Francke Verlag, page 457
• χρίω, in ΛΟΓΕΙΟΝ [Logeion] Dictionaries for Ancient Greek and Latin (in English, French, Spanish, German, Dutch and Chinese), University of Chicago, since 2011

Greek

Etymology

From Ancient Greek χρῑ́ω (khrī́ō).

Verb

χρίω • (chrío) (past έχρισα)

1. to anoint

Conjugation

This verb needs an inflection-table template.

Related terms

• χρίσμα n (chrísma, “nomination”)