Possibly from τίτο (títo, “sun, day”), which is an Anatolian loan-word, or from τιταίνω (titaínō, “to stretch, to extend”), from τείνω (teínō), or from τίσις (tísis, “retribution”), from τίνω (tínō, “to pay a price as a penalty, expiate”), respectively, as Hesiod attempts to explain. Compare Doric Greek τίτας (títas), Ionic Greek τίτης (títēs, “avenger, punisher”). However, modern scholars doubt Hesiod's etymology.
Jane Ellen Harrison asserts that the word "Titan" comes from the Greek τίτανος, signifying white "earth, clay, or gypsum," and that the Titans were "white clay men", or men covered by white clay or gypsum dust in their rituals.
Τῑτᾱ́ν • (Tītā́n) m (genitive Τῑτᾶνος); third declension
Case / # | Singular | Dual | Plural | ||||||||||
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Nominative | ὁ Τῑτᾱ́ν ho Tītā́n |
τὼ Τῑτᾶνε tṑ Tītâne |
οἱ Τῑτᾶνες hoi Tītânes | ||||||||||
Genitive | τοῦ Τῑτᾶνος toû Tītânos |
τοῖν Τῑτᾱ́νοιν toîn Tītā́noin |
τῶν Τῑτᾱ́νων tôn Tītā́nōn | ||||||||||
Dative | τῷ Τῑτᾶνῐ tôi Tītânĭ |
τοῖν Τῑτᾱ́νοιν toîn Tītā́noin |
τοῖς Τῑτᾶσῐ / Τῑτᾶσῐν toîs Tītâsĭ(n) | ||||||||||
Accusative | τὸν Τῑτᾶνᾰ tòn Tītână |
τὼ Τῑτᾶνε tṑ Tītâne |
τοὺς Τῑτᾶνᾰς toùs Tītânăs | ||||||||||
Vocative | Τῑτᾱ́ν Tītā́n |
Τῑτᾶνε Tītâne |
Τῑτᾶνες Tītânes | ||||||||||
Notes: |
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Ancient Greek Τιτάν (Titán)
Τιτάν • (Titán) m