χάος

Ancient Greek

Etymology

    Likely related to χαῦνος (khaûnos, “porous, loose-grained”) (via an earlier form χάος (kháos) < *χάϝος (*kháwos)), with original meaning "hole, empty space, yawning opening"; from this spring the traditional connections with χάσκω (kháskō, “I gape, yawn”), χήμη (khḗmē, “gaping; clam”). If so, then likely from Proto-Indo-European *gʰeh₂- (“to yawn, gape”); cognates thus include Proto-Germanic *gōmô (“gum, palate”) and Lithuanian gomurỹs (“palate”) (< *gʰéh₂mr̥/n-). The Germanic and Baltic terms probably originally referred to "mouth" before shifting to "palate".[1]

    An alternative theory by Furnee connects the word with Proto-Georgian-Zan *qew- (“ravine”).[2]

    Often compared to χώρα (khṓra, “open space; place”), but likely unrelated.

    Pronunciation

     

    Noun

    χᾰ́ος • (khắos) n (genitive χᾰ́εος or χᾰ́ους); third declension (singular only, uncountable)

    1. chaos; the primordial state of existence
    2. space; air
    3. abyss; chasm
    4. infinite darkness

    Declension

    Third declension of τὸ χᾰ́ος; τοῦ χᾰ́ους (Attic)
    Case / # Singular
    Nominative τὸ χᾰ́ος
    tò khắos
    Genitive τοῦ χᾰ́ους
    toû khắous
    Dative τῷ χᾰ́ει
    tōî khắei
    Accusative τὸ χᾰ́ος
    tò khắos
    Vocative χᾰ́ος
    khắos
    Notes:
    • This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For declension in other dialects, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal declension.
    Third declension of χᾰ́ος; χᾰ́εος / χᾰ́ευς (Epic)
    Case / # Singular
    Nominative χᾰ́ος
    khắos
    Genitive χᾰ́εος / χᾰ́ευς
    khắeos / khắeus
    Dative χᾰ́εῐ̈ / χᾰ́ει
    khắeĭ̈ / khắei
    Accusative χᾰ́ος
    khắos
    Vocative χᾰ́ος
    khắos
    Notes:
    • Dialects other than Attic are not well attested. Some forms may be based on conjecture. Use with caution.
    Third declension of τὸ χᾰ́ος; τοῦ χᾰ́εος / χᾰ́ευς (Ionic)
    Case / # Singular
    Nominative τὸ χᾰ́ος
    tò khắos
    Genitive τοῦ χᾰ́εος / χᾰ́ευς
    toû khắeos / khắeus
    Dative τῷ χᾰ́εῐ̈ / χᾰ́ει
    tōî khắeĭ̈ / khắei
    Accusative τὸ χᾰ́ος
    tò khắos
    Vocative χᾰ́ος
    khắos
    Notes:
    • Dialects other than Attic are not well attested. Some forms may be based on conjecture. Use with caution.
    • Normally, only in singular; but χᾰ́η (khắē) is occasionally found.

    Descendants

    References

    1. ^ Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010), “χάος, έος, όυς”, in Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 10), with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, page 1614
    2. ^ Furnée, Edzard Johan (1979), Vorgriechisch-Kartvelisches: Studien zum ostmediterranen Substrat nebst einem Versuch zu einer neuen pelasgischen Theorie (in German), Editions Peeters, →ISBN, page 34

    Further reading

    Greek

    Etymology

    Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek χάος (kháos). For sense disorder, mess, semantic loan from French chaos (in that sense) from Latin chaos, from Ancient Greek χάος (kháos).[1]

    Pronunciation

    • IPA(key): /ˈxa.os/
    • Hyphenation: χά‧ος

    Noun

    χάος • (cháos) n (chiefly in the singular)

    1. chaos
      • Kostas Karyotakis, poem «Φύγε, η καρδιά μου νοσταλγεί» ("Go, my heart is nostalgic") from collection Ελεγεία και Σάτιρες (Elegia and Satires), published in 1927. (Greek text)
        Φύγε κι ἄσε με μοναχό, ποὺ βλέπω νὰ πληθαίνη
        ἀπάνω ἡ νύχτα, καὶ βαθιὰ νὰ γίνωνται τὰ χάη.
        Fýge ki áse me monachó, pou vlépo na plithaíni
        apáno i nýchta, kai vathiá na gínontai ta chái.
        Go and leave me alone looking at the growing
        night upon [me], and the deepening chaoses.
    2. (figuratively) disorder, mess
    3. (mathematics) chaos

    Usage notes

    • The plural is generally only found in poetry.[2]

    Declension

    Declension of χάος
    singular
    nominative χάος (cháos)
    genitive χάους (cháous)
    accusative χάος (cháos)
    vocative χάος (cháos)

    Plural χάη, as in literature.

    Synonyms

    Derived terms

    • η θεωρία του χάους (i theoría tou cháous, “the chaos theory”) (mathematics)
    • χαοτικός (chaotikós, “chaotic”)

    References

    1. ^ χάος, in Λεξικό της κοινής νεοελληνικής [Dictionary of Standard Modern Greek], Triantafyllidis Foundation, 1998 at the Centre for the Greek language
    2. ^ χάη in greek poetry at greek-language.gr retr:2018.09.24.

    Further reading

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