ἀνάγκη

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Ancient Greek

Alternative forms

Etymology

Of uncertain origin, though likely from Proto-Indo-European *h₂neḱ- (to reach, attain) and cognate with Celtic terms like Old Irish éicen (force, necessity) (see there for more cognates), as well as perhaps Proto-Germanic *anhtō (persecution). A substrate origin is also possible, though not favored.[1]

Pronunciation

 

Noun

ᾰ̓νᾰ́γκη (anánkēf (genitive ᾰ̓νᾰ́γκης); first declension

  1. force
  2. constraint
  3. necessity

Declension

Derived terms

Descendants

References

  1. ^ Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010) “ἀνάγκη”, in Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 10), with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, page 97

Further reading