From Proto-Hellenic *aitʰiyokʷs, explained since antiquity as αἴθω (aíthō, “I burn”) + ὤψ (ṓps, “face”), though this is a folk etymology.[1]
Beekes argues that the first assumed root always has senses related to brightness and never to darkness, that the -ί- as well as -ο- instead of -ώ- are unexplained (the explanation actually is something), and that -οπ- (-οψ) is a typical Pre-Greek substrate suffix observed in ethnonyms like Δόλοψ (Dólops) and Δρύοψ (Drúops). The suffix is shaped differently in Mycenaean Greek 𐀀𐀂𐀴𐀍𐀦 (a-i-ti-jo-qo).[1][2]
A connection to this colour however brings closer the native Ethiopian Semitic ዕጣን (ʿəṭan, “incense”) to explain the unsuffixed etymon. Frankincense had the primary characteristic of being white, so also the source of λίβανος (líbanos, “incense”) is a Semitic root related to whiteness. The word might ultimately refer to the incense trade passing from Abyssinia. The folk of Ethiopia was so noted for earning its living by olibanum commerce that the Arabs even derived a term حَبَشَ (ḥabaša, “to earn, to obtain for the household”) from their other ethnonym اَلْحَبَشَة (al-ḥabaša).
Αἰθίοψ • (Aithíops) m (genitive Αἰθίοπος); third declension
Case / # | Singular | Dual | Plural | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nominative | ὁ Αἰθῐ́οψ ho Aithíops |
τὼ Αἰθῐ́οπε tṑ Aithíope |
οἱ Αἰθῐ́οπες hoi Aithíopes | ||||||||||
Genitive | τοῦ Αἰθῐ́οπος toû Aithíopos |
τοῖν Αἰθῐόποιν toîn Aithiópoin |
τῶν Αἰθῐόπων tôn Aithiópōn | ||||||||||
Dative | τῷ Αἰθῐ́οπῐ tôi Aithíopi |
τοῖν Αἰθῐόποιν toîn Aithiópoin |
τοῖς Αἰθῐ́οψῐ / Αἰθῐ́οψῐν toîs Aithíopsi(n) | ||||||||||
Accusative | τὸν Αἰθῐ́οπᾰ tòn Aithíopa |
τὼ Αἰθῐ́οπε tṑ Aithíope |
τοὺς Αἰθῐ́οπᾰς toùs Aithíopas | ||||||||||
Vocative | Αἰθῐ́οψ Aithíops |
Αἰθῐ́οπε Aithíope |
Αἰθῐ́οπες Aithíopes | ||||||||||
Notes: |
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