ἀμύνω

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Ancient Greek

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Etymology

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If the nasal is originally a present marker, as in κλίνω (klínō) and πλύνω (plúnō), we have a root ἀμυ-, which may be found in ἀμεύομαι (ameúomai, to surpass, outstrip), but the semantics are not quite clear. Perhaps related to μύνη (múnē, excuse, pretense).

Pronunciation

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Verb

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ᾰ̓μῡ́νω (amū́nō)

  1. (transitive) to keep off, ward off, defend, guard, assist [with accusative ‘something/someone’ and dative ‘from something/someone’]
  2. (transitive) to avenge, punish, repay, requite

Usage notes

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Generally, the object being protected received the accusative case, while the offending object receives the dative. The second sense, "avenge" is more common in the middle voice.

Inflection

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Derived terms

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Descendants

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  • Translingual: Amynodontidae (extinct family of rhino-like animals)
  • Latin: Amyntas (Greek and Hellenistic male given name, borne by a number of notable kings and generals)

References

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