ὀρεύς

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Ancient Greek

Alternative forms

Etymology

From ὄρος (óros) + -εύς (-eús). Case-forms show Attic shortening of the original stem ὀρηϝ- (orēw-); see quantitative metathesis. (Can this(+) etymology be sourced?)

Pronunciation

 

Noun

ὀρεύς (oreúsm (genitive ὀρέως); third declension

  1. mule, beast of burden
    • 405 BCE, Aristophanes, The Frogs 289–291:
      δεινόν: παντοδαπὸν γοῦν γίγνεται
      τοτὲ μέν γε βοῦς, νυνὶ δ' ὀρεύς, τοτὲ δ' αὖ γυνὴ / ὡραιοτάτη τις.
      deinón: pantodapòn goûn gígnetai
      totè mén ge boûs, nunì d' oreús, totè d' aû gunḕ / hōraiotátē tis.
      Awful... well, it takes all kinds of shapes:
      at one time it was a cow, just now it was a mule, and then again a woman, / a very youthful one.

Usage notes

  • Attic speakers preferred the term ἡμίονος, though the adjectival form ὀρικός was used in place of ἡμιονικός.

Inflection

Derived terms

Further reading