βοηθόος

Homeric univerbation of (ἐπί) βοὴν θεῖν ((epí) boḕn theîn), from βοή (boḗ, “shout, call”) + θοός (thoós, “swift, running”) (θέω (théō, “to run”)); post-classically shortened to βοηθός (boēthós).^[1]

βοηθόος • (boēthóos) m or f (neuter βοηθόον); second declension

1. heeding the call to arms, rushing to battle
   • 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Iliad 13.477:

     Αἰνείαν ἐπιόντα βοηθόον

     Aineían epiónta boēthóon

     • 1924 translation by A.T. Murray

       the oncoming of Aeneas to bear aid

   • 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Iliad 17.481–482:

     Ὣς ἔφατ', Ἀλκιμέδων δὲ βοηθόον ἅρμ' ἐπορούσας
     καρπαλίμως μάστιγα καὶ ἡνία λάζετο χερσίν

     Hṑs éphat’, Alkimédōn dè boēthóon hárm’ eporoúsas
     karpalímōs mástiga kaì hēnía lázeto khersín

     • 1924 translation by A.T. Murray

       So spake he, and Alcimedon leapt upon the car that was swift in battle,
       and quickly grasped in his hands the lash and reins

2. assisting, auxiliary; aiding, helping

• βοηθός (boēthós, “auxiliary”)
• βοήθεια (boḗtheia, “help, aid”)
• βοηθέω (boēthéō, “come to aid, succour, assist, aid”)
• βοήθησις (boḗthēsis, “aid, succour”)

• “βοηθόος”, in Liddell & Scott (1940) A Greek–English Lexicon, Oxford: Clarendon Press