παλαιός

Ancient Greek

Alternative forms

πάλαος (pálaos) — Aeolic
παλεός (paleós) — Laconian
παληός (palēós) — Boeotian

Etymology

From πάλαι (pálai, “long ago”) +‎ -ος (-os, “adjectival suffix”).^[1] Likely cognate with Mycenaean Greek 𐀞𐀨𐀍 (pa-ra-jo), which has been argued to mean “old”; this connection points to a Proto-Hellenic *palai(y)ós and casts doubt on the popularly proposed etymology from Proto-Indo-European *kʷel-.^[2]

Pronunciation

(5^th BCE Attic) IPA^(key): /pa.lai̯.ós/
(1^st CE Egyptian) IPA^(key): /pa.lɛˈos/
(4^th CE Koine) IPA^(key): /pa.lɛˈos/
(10^th CE Byzantine) IPA^(key): /pa.leˈos/
(15^th CE Constantinopolitan) IPA^(key): /pa.leˈos/

Adjective

πᾰλαιός • (pălaiós) m (feminine πᾰλαιᾱ́, neuter πᾰλαιόν); first/second declension

old; aged
Synonym: γεραιός (geraiós)
ancient; of times past
Synonym: ἀρχαῖος (arkhaîos)
time-honoured; venerable
antiquated; outdated

Declension

First and second declension of πᾰλαιός; πᾰλαιᾱ́; πᾰλαιόν (Attic)

Number	Singular			Dual			Plural
Case/Gender	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	πᾰλαιός pălaiós	πᾰλαιᾱ́ pălaiā́	πᾰλαιόν pălaión	πᾰλαιώ pălaiṓ	πᾰλαιᾱ́ pălaiā́	πᾰλαιώ pălaiṓ	πᾰλαιοί pălaioí	πᾰλαιαί pălaiaí	πᾰλαιᾰ́ pălaiắ
Genitive	πᾰλαιοῦ pălaioû	πᾰλαιᾶς pălaiâs	πᾰλαιοῦ pălaioû	πᾰλαιοῖν pălaioîn	πᾰλαιαῖν pălaiaîn	πᾰλαιοῖν pălaioîn	πᾰλαιῶν pălaiôn	πᾰλαιῶν pălaiôn	πᾰλαιῶν pălaiôn
Dative	πᾰλαιῷ pălaiōî	πᾰλαιᾷ pălaiāî	πᾰλαιῷ pălaiōî	πᾰλαιοῖν pălaioîn	πᾰλαιαῖν pălaiaîn	πᾰλαιοῖν pălaioîn	πᾰλαιοῖς pălaioîs	πᾰλαιαῖς pălaiaîs	πᾰλαιοῖς pălaioîs
Accusative	πᾰλαιόν pălaión	πᾰλαιᾱ́ν pălaiā́n	πᾰλαιόν pălaión	πᾰλαιώ pălaiṓ	πᾰλαιᾱ́ pălaiā́	πᾰλαιώ pălaiṓ	πᾰλαιούς pălaioús	πᾰλαιᾱ́ς pălaiā́s	πᾰλαιᾰ́ pălaiắ
Vocative	πᾰλαιέ pălaié	πᾰλαιᾱ́ pălaiā́	πᾰλαιόν pălaión	πᾰλαιώ pălaiṓ	πᾰλαιᾱ́ pălaiā́	πᾰλαιώ pălaiṓ	πᾰλαιοί pălaioí	πᾰλαιαί pălaiaí	πᾰλαιᾰ́ pălaiắ
Derived forms	Adverb			Comparative			Superlative
Derived forms	πᾰλαιόν πᾰλαιῶς pălaión pălaiôs			πᾰλαιότερος πᾰλαίτερος pălaióteros pălaíteros			πᾰλαιότᾰτος πᾰλαίτᾰτος pălaiótătos pălaítătos
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For declension in other dialects, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal declension.

First and second declension of πᾰλαιός; πᾰλαιή; πᾰλαιόν (Epic)

Number	Singular			Dual			Plural
Case/Gender	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	πᾰλαιός pălaiós	πᾰλαιή pălaiḗ	πᾰλαιόν pălaión	πᾰλαιώ pălaiṓ	πᾰλαιᾱ́ pălaiā́	πᾰλαιώ pălaiṓ	πᾰλαιοί pălaioí	πᾰλαιαί pălaiaí	πᾰλαιᾰ́ pălaiắ
Genitive	πᾰλαιοῖο πᾰλαιόο πᾰλαιοῦ pălaioîo pălaióo pălaioû	πᾰλαιῆς pălaiês	πᾰλαιοῖο πᾰλαιόο πᾰλαιοῦ pălaioîo pălaióo pălaioû	πᾰλαιοῖῐ̈ν pălaioîĭ̈n	πᾰλαιαῖῐ̈ν pălaiaîĭ̈n	πᾰλαιοῖῐ̈ν pălaioîĭ̈n	πᾰλαιῶν pălaiôn	πᾰλαιᾱ́ων πᾰλαιέων πᾰλαιῶν pălaiā́ōn pălaiéōn pălaiôn	πᾰλαιῶν pălaiôn
Dative	πᾰλαιῷ pălaiōî	πᾰλαιῇ pălaiēî	πᾰλαιῷ pălaiōî	πᾰλαιοῖῐ̈ν pălaioîĭ̈n	πᾰλαιαῖῐ̈ν pălaiaîĭ̈n	πᾰλαιοῖῐ̈ν pălaioîĭ̈n	πᾰλαιοῖσῐ πᾰλαιοῖσῐν πᾰλαιοῖς pălaioîsĭ(n) pălaioîs	πᾰλαιῇσῐ πᾰλαιῇσῐν πᾰλαιῇς πᾰλαιαῖς pălaiēîsĭ(n) pălaiēîs pălaiaîs	πᾰλαιοῖσῐ πᾰλαιοῖσῐν πᾰλαιοῖς pălaioîsĭ(n) pălaioîs
Accusative	πᾰλαιόν pălaión	πᾰλαιήν pălaiḗn	πᾰλαιόν pălaión	πᾰλαιώ pălaiṓ	πᾰλαιᾱ́ pălaiā́	πᾰλαιώ pălaiṓ	πᾰλαιούς pălaioús	πᾰλαιᾱ́ς pălaiā́s	πᾰλαιᾰ́ pălaiắ
Vocative	πᾰλαιέ pălaié	πᾰλαιή pălaiḗ	πᾰλαιόν pălaión	πᾰλαιώ pălaiṓ	πᾰλαιᾱ́ pălaiā́	πᾰλαιώ pălaiṓ	πᾰλαιοί pălaioí	πᾰλαιαί pălaiaí	πᾰλαιᾰ́ pălaiắ
Derived forms	Adverb			Comparative			Superlative
Derived forms	πᾰλαιόν pălaión			πᾰλαιότερος pălaióteros			πᾰλαιότᾰτος pălaiótătos
Notes:	Dialects other than Attic are not well attested. Some forms may be based on conjecture. Use with caution.

First and second declension of πᾰλαιός; πᾰλαιή; πᾰλαιόν (Ionic)

Number	Singular			Dual			Plural
Case/Gender	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	πᾰλαιός pălaiós	πᾰλαιή pălaiḗ	πᾰλαιόν pălaión	πᾰλαιώ pălaiṓ	πᾰλαιᾱ́ pălaiā́	πᾰλαιώ pălaiṓ	πᾰλαιοί pălaioí	πᾰλαιαί pălaiaí	πᾰλαιᾰ́ pălaiắ
Genitive	πᾰλαιοῦ pălaioû	πᾰλαιῆς pălaiês	πᾰλαιοῦ pălaioû	πᾰλαιοῖν pălaioîn	πᾰλαιαῖν pălaiaîn	πᾰλαιοῖν pălaioîn	πᾰλαιῶν pălaiôn	πᾰλαιέων πᾰλαιῶν pălaiéōn pălaiôn	πᾰλαιῶν pălaiôn
Dative	πᾰλαιῷ pălaiōî	πᾰλαιῇ pălaiēî	πᾰλαιῷ pălaiōî	πᾰλαιοῖν pălaioîn	πᾰλαιαῖν pălaiaîn	πᾰλαιοῖν pălaioîn	πᾰλαιοῖσῐ πᾰλαιοῖσῐν pălaioîsĭ(n)	πᾰλαιῇσῐ πᾰλαιῇσῐν pălaiēîsĭ(n)	πᾰλαιοῖσῐ πᾰλαιοῖσῐν pălaioîsĭ(n)
Accusative	πᾰλαιόν pălaión	πᾰλαιήν pălaiḗn	πᾰλαιόν pălaión	πᾰλαιώ pălaiṓ	πᾰλαιᾱ́ pălaiā́	πᾰλαιώ pălaiṓ	πᾰλαιούς pălaioús	πᾰλαιᾱ́ς pălaiā́s	πᾰλαιᾰ́ pălaiắ
Vocative	πᾰλαιέ pălaié	πᾰλαιή pălaiḗ	πᾰλαιόν pălaión	πᾰλαιώ pălaiṓ	πᾰλαιᾱ́ pălaiā́	πᾰλαιώ pălaiṓ	πᾰλαιοί pălaioí	πᾰλαιαί pălaiaí	πᾰλαιᾰ́ pălaiắ
Derived forms	Adverb			Comparative			Superlative
Derived forms	πᾰλαιόν πᾰλαιῶς pălaión pălaiôs			πᾰλαιότερος πᾰλαίτερος pălaióteros pălaíteros			πᾰλαιότᾰτος πᾰλαίτᾰτος pălaiótătos pălaítătos
Notes:	Dialects other than Attic are not well attested. Some forms may be based on conjecture. Use with caution.

Derived terms

ᾰ̓πὸ πᾰλαιοῦ (ăpò pălaioû)
κᾰτᾰπᾰλαιόομαι (kătăpălaióomai)
κᾰτᾰπᾰλαιοῦμαι (kătăpălaioûmai)
μουσοπᾰλαιολῡ́μᾱς (mousopălaiolū́mās)
πᾰλαιᾰ́ω (pălaiắō)
πᾰλαιογενής (pălaiogenḗs)
πᾰλαιογονῐ́ᾱ (pălaiogonĭ́ā)
πᾰλαιόγονος (pălaiógonos)
πᾰλαιόδουλος (pălaiódoulos)
πᾰλαιόθερμος (pălaióthermos)
πᾰλαιοθέτης (pălaiothétēs)
πᾰλαιοί (pălaioí)
πᾰλαιοκέρᾰμος (pălaiokérămos)
πᾰλαιόκτητος (pălaióktētos)
πᾰλαιολογέω (pălaiologéō)
πᾰλαιομᾰ́γᾰδῐς (pălaiomắgădĭs)
πᾰλαίομαι (pălaíomai)
πᾰλαιομᾱ́τωρ (pălaiomā́tōr)
πᾰλαιομήτωρ (pălaiomḗtōr)
πᾰλαιομώλωψ (pălaiomṓlōps)
πᾰλαιόν (pălaión)
πᾰλαιόπληγος (pălaióplēgos)
πᾰλαιοπλούσῐος (pălaioploúsĭos)
πᾰλαιόπλουτος (pălaióploutos)
πᾰλαιόπολῐς (pălaiópolĭs)
πᾰλαιοπόρνη (pălaiopórnē)
πᾰλαιοπρᾱ́γμων (pălaioprā́gmōn)
πᾰλαιόρ (pălaiór)
πᾰλαιορᾰ́φῐον (pălaiorắphĭon)
πᾰλαιορᾰ́φος (pălaiorắphos)
πᾰλαιόρῐ́ζος (pălaiórĭ́zos)
πᾰλαιόσπῑτον (pălaióspīton)
πᾰλαιότᾰτος (pălaiótătos)
πᾰλαιότερος (pălaióteros)
πᾰλαιότης (pălaiótēs)
πᾰλαιοτόκος (pălaiotókos)
πᾰλαιοτροπῐ́ᾱ (pălaiotropĭ́ā)
πᾰλαιότροπος (pălaiótropos)
πᾰλαιουργέω (pălaiourgéō)
πᾰλαιουργός (pălaiourgós)
πᾰλαιοφᾰνής (pălaiophănḗs)
πᾰλαιόφρων (pălaióphrōn)
πᾰλαιοχᾰ́ρᾰκτος (pălaiokhắrăktos)
πᾰλαιόχρονος (pălaiókhronos)
πᾰλαιοχωρῐ́ον (pălaiokhōrĭ́on)
πᾰλαιοχώρῐον (pălaiokhṓrĭon)
πᾰλαιόω (pălaióō)
πᾰλαίτᾰτος (pălaítătos)
πᾰλαίτερος (pălaíteros)
πᾰλαίωμᾰ (pălaíōmă)
πᾰλαίωρ (pălaíōr)
πᾰλαιῶς (pălaiôs)
πᾰλαίωσῐς (pălaíōsĭs)
πᾰμπᾰ́λαιος (pămpắlaios)
προπᾰ́λαιος (propắlaios)
προπᾰλαιόω (propălaióō)
τοπᾰλαιόν (topălaión)
τρῐπᾰ́λαιος (trĭpắlaios)

Descendants

Greek: παλιός (paliós)
→ English: paleo-, palaeo-
→ Irish: pailé-
→ German: paläo-
→ French: paléo-

References

^ Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010), “πάλαι (> DER παλαιός)”, in Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 10), with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, page 1144
^ John Chadwick; Lydia Baumbach (1963), “The Mycenaean Greek Vocabulary”, in Glotta : Zeitschrift für griechische und lateinische Sprache, volume 41, number 3/4, Göttingen, Germany: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht (GmbH & Co. KG), →JSTOR, →OCLC, page 232 of 157–271: “πάλαι”

Greek

Alternative forms

παλιός (paliós) — less formal

Adjective

παλαιός • (palaiós) m (feminine παλαιά, neuter παλαιό)

(formal) long established, old, former, not modern, worn out

Usage notes

Generally, παλαιός (palaiós) is less common than παλιός (paliós), but its comparative παλαιότερος (palaióteros) is more common than παλιότερος (palióteros).
However, παλιός (paliós) has no superlative, so παλαιότατος (palaiótatos) is always used. See also the intensive παμπάλαιος (pampálaios).

Declension

Declension of παλαιός
	singular			plural
	masculine	feminine	neuter	masculine	feminine	neuter
nominative	παλαιός (palaiós)	παλαιά (palaiá)	παλαιό (palaió)	παλαιοί (palaioí)	παλαιές (palaiés)	παλαιά (palaiá)
genitive	παλαιού (palaioú)	παλαιάς (palaiás)	παλαιού (palaioú)	παλαιών (palaión)	παλαιών (palaión)	παλαιών (palaión)
accusative	παλαιό (palaió)	παλαιά (palaiá)	παλαιό (palaió)	παλαιούς (palaioús)	παλαιές (palaiés)	παλαιά (palaiá)
vocative	παλαιέ (palaié)	παλαιά (palaiá)	παλαιό (palaió)	παλαιοί (palaioí)	παλαιές (palaiés)	παλαιά (palaiá)

Notes: There are also rare feminine forms παλαιή (palaií) and παλαιής (palaiís).
Derivations:
Comparative: πιο + positive forms (e.g. πιο παλαιός, etc.)
Relative superlative: definite article + πιο + positive forms (e.g. ο πιο παλαιός, etc.)

Degrees of comparison by suffixation

comparative (?)	singular			plural
comparative (?)	masculine	feminine	neuter	masculine	feminine	neuter
nominative	παλαιότερος (palaióteros)	παλαιότερη (palaióteri)	παλαιότερο (palaiótero)	παλαιότεροι (palaióteroi)	παλαιότερες (palaióteres)	παλαιότερα (palaiótera)
genitive	παλαιότερου (palaióterou)	παλαιότερης (palaióteris)	παλαιότερου (palaióterou)	παλαιότερων (palaióteron)	παλαιότερων (palaióteron)	παλαιότερων (palaióteron)
accusative	παλαιότερο (palaiótero)	παλαιότερη (palaióteri)	παλαιότερο (palaiótero)	παλαιότερους (palaióterous)	παλαιότερες (palaióteres)	παλαιότερα (palaiótera)
vocative	παλαιότερε (palaiótere)	παλαιότερη (palaióteri)	παλαιότερο (palaiótero)	παλαιότεροι (palaióteroi)	παλαιότερες (palaióteres)	παλαιότερα (palaiótera)

Derivations: relative superlative: ο + comparative forms: e.g. ο παλαιότερος (o palaióteros), etc.

absolute superlative (?)	singular			plural
absolute superlative (?)	masculine	feminine	neuter	masculine	feminine	neuter
nominative	παλαιότατος (palaiótatos)	παλαιότατη (palaiótati)	παλαιότατο (palaiótato)	παλαιότατοι (palaiótatoi)	παλαιότατες (palaiótates)	παλαιότατα (palaiótata)
genitive	παλαιότατου (palaiótatou)	παλαιότατης (palaiótatis)	παλαιότατου (palaiótatou)	παλαιότατων (palaiótaton)	παλαιότατων (palaiótaton)	παλαιότατων (palaiótaton)
accusative	παλαιότατο (palaiótato)	παλαιότατη (palaiótati)	παλαιότατο (palaiótato)	παλαιότατους (palaiótatous)	παλαιότατες (palaiótates)	παλαιότατα (palaiótata)
vocative	παλαιότατε (palaiótate)	παλαιότατη (palaiótati)	παλαιότατο (palaiótato)	παλαιότατοι (palaiótatoi)	παλαιότατες (palaiótates)	παλαιότατα (palaiótata)

Derived terms

παλαιά νορβηγικά (palaiá norvigiká)

Ancient Greek

Alternative forms

Etymology

Pronunciation

Adjective

Declension

Derived terms

Descendants

References

Further reading

Greek

Alternative forms

Adjective

Usage notes

Declension

Derived terms

See also