ἰαίνω

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Ancient Greek

Etymology

Probably from Proto-Indo-European *h₁eysh₂-n-ye-ti, a nasal ye-present of *h₁eysh₂- (to strengthen, propel), whence also Sanskrit इषण्यति (iṣaṇyati, to urge on, incite) (though the semantics are not particularly strong, nor particularly weak). See also ῑ̓άομαι (īáomai, to cure, repair), as well as the primary Sanskrit formations इष्यति (iṣyati, to impel, send), इष्णाति (iṣṇāti, to incite, throw, swing).[1]

Pronunciation

 

Verb

ἰαίνω (iaínō)

  1. (transitive) to heat, warm
    • 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Odyssey 8.426:
      ἀμφὶ δέ οἱ πυρὶ χαλκὸν ἰήνατε
      amphì dé hoi purì khalkòn iḗnate
      and for him heat up a cauldron on the fire
  2. (also metaphorically) to melt
  3. to relax by warmth
  4. (more frequently) to warm, cheer
    • 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Iliad 15.102–103:
      οὐδὲ μέτωπον ἐπ' ὀφρύσι κυανέῃσιν / ἰάνθη
      oudè métōpon ep’ ophrúsi kuanéēisin / iánthē
      but her forehead above her dark eyebrows did not / cheer up

Usage notes

  • This verb denotes a pleasant kind of heat, prompting its use in metaphors for positive emotions.

Conjugation

References

  1. ^ Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010) “ἰαίνω”, in Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 10), with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, pages 571-2

Further reading