ῥύομαι

Ancient Greek

Alternative forms

εἰρύομαι (eirúomai) — Epic

Etymology

The term is likely related to ἔρῡμαι (érūmai), with both forms showcasing different ablaut grades. The linguist Lucien van Beek proposes that this term may derive from earlier Proto-Hellenic *srῡ-, itself from Proto-Indo-European *sruH-. Van Beek ultimately connects the term with the root *ser-, whence also Latin servō.^[1] Alternatively, the root may be reconstructed as *swerh₃-, whose zero-grade form *swṛh₃- would metathesize to *sruh₃-, whence perhaps Proto-Hellenic *srῡ-. Beekes instead connects the term with Sanskrit vṛṇóti and proposes a derivation from Proto-Indo-European *weru- or *uruH-.^[2]

Pronunciation

(5^th BCE Attic) IPA^(key): /r̥y̌ː.o.mai̯/
(1^st CE Egyptian) IPA^(key): /ˈry.o.mɛ/
(4^th CE Koine) IPA^(key): /ˈry.o.mɛ/
(10^th CE Byzantine) IPA^(key): /ˈry.o.me/
(15^th CE Constantinopolitan) IPA^(key): /ˈri.o.me/

Verb

ῥῡ́ομαι • (rhū́omai) (Epic, Ionic, Tragic, Koine, rare in prose)

to protect, guard, preserve
to rescue, save, deliver
to keep something dangerous away
to thwart, curb
to set free, ransom, redeem; to pay for

Usage notes

The form ἐρύω (erúō), under which Liddell and Scott and Cunliffe list the word, is unattested; instead the present stem takes the forms ῥυ- (rhu-) and εἰρυ- (eiru-) with long or short υ (u). Present (LSJ) or perfect (Cunliffe), and imperfect (LSJ) or pluperfect (Cunliffe) forms may be thematic or athematic.

The aorist has six possible stems: with long εἰ (ei), short ἐ (e), or no augment; double σσ (ss) or single σ (s) first aorist tense suffix; and long or short υ (u).

Inflection

Present: ῥῡ́ομαι (Epic)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
middle/passive	indicative	ῥῡ́ομαι	ῥῡ́εαι, ῥῡ́ῃ	ῥῡ́εται	ῥῡ́εσθον	ῥῡ́εσθον	ῥῡόμε(σ)θᾰ	ῥῡ́εσθε	ῥῡ́ονται
	subjunctive	ῥῡ́ωμαι	ῥῡ́ηαι, ῥῡ́ῃ	ῥῡ́ηται	ῥῡ́ησθον	ῥῡ́ησθον	ῥῡώμε(σ)θᾰ	ῥῡ́ησθε	ῥῡ́ωνται
	optative	ῥῡοίμην	ῥῡ́οιο	ῥῡ́οιτο	ῥῡ́οισθον	ῥῡοίσθην	ῥῡοίμε(σ)θᾰ	ῥῡ́οισθε	ῥῡοίᾰτο
	imperative		ῥῡ́εο, ῥῡ́ευ	ῥῡέσθω	ῥῡ́εσθον	ῥῡέσθων		ῥῡ́εσθε	ῥῡέσθων
						middle/passive
infinitive						ῥῡ́εσθαι, ῥῦσθαι
participle	m					ῥῡόμενος
	f					ῥῡομένη
	n					ῥῡόμενον
Notes:	Dialects other than Attic are not well attested. Some forms are based on conjecture. Use with caution. For more details, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Present: ῥῠ́ομαι (Epic)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
middle/passive	indicative	ῥῠ́ομαι	ῥῠ́εαι, ῥῠ́ῃ	ῥῠ́εται	ῥῠ́εσθον	ῥῠ́εσθον	ῥῠόμε(σ)θᾰ	ῥῠ́εσθε	ῥῠ́ονται
	subjunctive	ῥῠ́ωμαι	ῥῠ́ηαι, ῥῠ́ῃ	ῥῠ́ηται	ῥῠ́ησθον	ῥῠ́ησθον	ῥῠώμε(σ)θᾰ	ῥῠ́ησθε	ῥῠ́ωνται
	optative	ῥῠοίμην	ῥῠ́οιο	ῥῠ́οιτο	ῥῠ́οισθον	ῥῠοίσθην	ῥῠοίμε(σ)θᾰ	ῥῠ́οισθε	ῥῠοίᾰτο
	imperative		ῥῠ́εο, ῥῠ́ευ	ῥῠέσθω	ῥῠ́εσθον	ῥῠέσθων		ῥῠ́εσθε	ῥῠέσθων
						middle/passive
infinitive						ῥῠ́εσθαι
participle	m					ῥῠόμενος
	f					ῥῠομένη
	n					ῥῠόμενον
Notes:	Dialects other than Attic are not well attested. Some forms are based on conjecture. Use with caution. For more details, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Present: εἰρῡ́ομαι (Epic)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
middle/passive	indicative	εἰρῡ́ομαι	εἰρῡ́εαι, εἰρῡ́ῃ	εἰρῡ́εται, ἔρῡται	εἰρῡ́εσθον	εἰρῡ́εσθον	εἰρῡόμε(σ)θᾰ	εἰρῡ́εσθε	εἰρῡ́ονται, εἰρῡ́αται, εἰρῠ́αται
	subjunctive	εἰρῡ́ωμαι	εἰρῡ́ηαι, εἰρῡ́ῃ	εἰρῡ́ηται	εἰρῡ́ησθον	εἰρῡ́ησθον	εἰρῡώμε(σ)θᾰ	εἰρῡ́ησθε	εἰρῡ́ωνται
	optative	εἰρῡοίμην	εἰρῡ́οιο	εἰρῡ́οιτο	εἰρῡ́οισθον	εἰρῡοίσθην	εἰρῡοίμε(σ)θᾰ	εἰρῡ́οισθε	εἰρῡοίᾰτο
	imperative		εἰρῡ́εο, εἰρῡ́ευ	εἰρῡέσθω	εἰρῡ́εσθον	εἰρῡέσθων		εἰρῡ́εσθε	εἰρῡέσθων
						middle/passive
infinitive						εἴρυσθαι, ἔρυσθαι, ἐρύεσθαι
participle	m					εἰρῡόμενος
	f					εἰρῡομένη
	n					εἰρῡόμενον
Notes:	Dialects other than Attic are not well attested. Some forms are based on conjecture. Use with caution. For more details, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Imperfect: ῥῡόμην (Epic)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
middle/passive	indicative	ῥῡόμην	ῥῡ́εο, ῥῡ́ευ	ῥῡ́ετο	ῥῡ́εσθον	ῥῡέσθην	ῥῡόμε(σ)θᾰ	ῥῡ́εσθε	ῥῡ́οντο, ῥῡ́ατο
Notes:	Dialects other than Attic are not well attested. Some forms are based on conjecture. Use with caution. For more details, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Imperfect: ἐρῡόμην (Epic)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
middle/passive	indicative	ἐρῡόμην	ἐρῡ́ου, ἔρῡσο	ἐρῡ́ετο, ἔρῡτο	ἐρῡ́εσθον	ἐρῡέσθην	ἐρῡόμε(σ)θᾰ	ἐρῡ́εσθε	ἐρῡ́οντο
Notes:	Dialects other than Attic are not well attested. Some forms are based on conjecture. Use with caution. For more details, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Imperfect: εἰρῡόμην (Epic)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
middle/passive	indicative	εἰρῡόμην	εἰρῡ́ου, εἴρῡσο	εἰρῡ́ετο, εἴρῡτο	εἰρῡ́εσθον	εἰρῡέσθην	εἰρῡόμε(σ)θᾰ	εἰρῡ́εσθε	εἰρῡ́οντο
Notes:	Dialects other than Attic are not well attested. Some forms are based on conjecture. Use with caution. For more details, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Future: εἰρῠ́σσομαι (Epic)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
middle	indicative	εἰρῠ́σσομαι	εἰρῠ́σσεαι, εἰρῠ́σσῃ	εἰρῠ́σσεται	εἰρῠ́σσεσθον	εἰρῠ́σσεσθον	εἰρῠσσόμε(σ)θᾰ	εἰρῠ́σσεσθε	εἰρῠ́σσονται
middle	optative	εἰρῠσσοίμην	εἰρῠ́σσοιο	εἰρῠ́σσοιτο	εἰρῠ́σσοισθον	εἰρῠσσοίσθην	εἰρῠσσοίμε(σ)θᾰ	εἰρῠ́σσοισθε	εἰρῠσσοίᾰτο
					middle
infinitive					εἰρῠ́σσεσθαι
participle	m				εἰρῠσσόμενος
	f				εἰρῠσσομένη
	n				εἰρῠσσόμενον
Notes:	Dialects other than Attic are not well attested. Some forms are based on conjecture. Use with caution. For more details, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Future: ἐρῠ́σσομαι (Epic)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
middle	indicative	ἐρῠ́σσομαι	ἐρῠ́σσεαι, ἐρῠ́σσῃ	ἐρῠ́σσεται	ἐρῠ́σσεσθον	ἐρῠ́σσεσθον	ἐρῠσσόμε(σ)θᾰ	ἐρῠ́σσεσθε	ἐρῠ́σσονται
middle	optative	ἐρῠσσοίμην	ἐρῠ́σσοιο	ἐρῠ́σσοιτο	ἐρῠ́σσοισθον	ἐρῠσσοίσθην	ἐρῠσσοίμε(σ)θᾰ	ἐρῠ́σσοισθε	ἐρῠσσοίᾰτο
					middle
infinitive					ἐρῠ́σσεσθαι
participle	m				ἐρῠσσόμενος
	f				ἐρῠσσομένη
	n				ἐρῠσσόμενον
Notes:	Dialects other than Attic are not well attested. Some forms are based on conjecture. Use with caution. For more details, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Future: ῥῡ́σομαι (Epic)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
middle	indicative	ῥῡ́σομαι	ῥῡ́σεαι, ῥῡ́σῃ	ῥῡ́σεται	ῥῡ́σεσθον	ῥῡ́σεσθον	ῥῡσόμε(σ)θᾰ	ῥῡ́σεσθε	ῥῡ́σονται
middle	optative	ῥῡσοίμην	ῥῡ́σοιο	ῥῡ́σοιτο	ῥῡ́σοισθον	ῥῡσοίσθην	ῥῡσοίμε(σ)θᾰ	ῥῡ́σοισθε	ῥῡσοίᾰτο
					middle
infinitive					ῥῡ́σεσθαι
participle	m				ῥῡσόμενος
	f				ῥῡσομένη
	n				ῥῡσόμενον
Notes:	Dialects other than Attic are not well attested. Some forms are based on conjecture. Use with caution. For more details, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Aorist: ἐρρυσᾰ́μην (Koine)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
middle	indicative	ἐρρυσᾰ́μην	ἐρρύσω	ἐρρύσᾰτο	ἐρρύσᾰσθον	ἐρρυσᾰ́σθην	ἐρρυσᾰ́μεθᾰ	ἐρρύσᾰσθε	ἐρρύσᾰντο
	subjunctive	ρύσωμαι	ρύσῃ	ρύσηται	ρύσησθον	ρύσησθον	ρυσώμεθᾰ	ρύσησθε	ρύσωνται
	optative	ρυσαίμην	ρύσαιο	ρύσαιτο	ρύσαισθον	ρυσαίσθην	ρυσαίμεθᾰ	ρύσαισθε	ρύσαιντο
	imperative		ρῦσαι	ρυσᾰ́σθω	ρύσᾰσθον	ρυσᾰ́σθων		ρύσᾰσθε	ρυσᾰ́σθων
					middle
infinitive					ρύσᾰσθαι
participle	m				ρυσᾰ́μενος
	f				ρυσᾰμένη
	n				ρυσᾰ́μενον
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Aorist: ἐρῠσᾰ́μην (Epic)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
middle	indicative	ἐρῠσᾰ́μην	ἐρῠ́σᾰο	ἐρῠ́σᾰτο	ἐρῠ́σᾰσθον	ἐρῠσᾰ́σθην	ἐρῠσᾰ́με(σ)θᾰ	ἐρῠ́σᾰσθε	ἐρῠ́σᾰντο
	subjunctive	ἐρῠ́σωμαι, ἐρῠ́σομαι	ἐρῠ́σῃ, ἐρῠ́σεαι	ἐρῠ́σηται, ἐρῠ́σεται	ἐρῠ́σησθον	ἐρῠ́σησθον	ἐρῠσώμε(σ)θᾰ, ἐρῠσόμε(σ)θᾰ	ἐρῠ́σησθε	ἐρῠ́σωνται
	optative	ἐρῠσαίμην	ἐρῠ́σαιο	ἐρῠ́σαιτο	ἐρῠ́σαισθον	ἐρῠσαίσθην	ἐρῠσαίμε(σ)θᾰ	ἐρῠ́σαισθε	ἐρῠσαίᾰτο
	imperative		ἔρῠσαι	ἐρῠσᾰ́σθω	ἐρῠ́σᾰσθον	ἐρῠσᾰ́σθων		ἐρῠ́σᾰσθε	ἐρῠσᾰ́σθων
					middle
infinitive					ἐρῠ́σᾰσθαι
participle	m				ἐρῠσᾰ́μενος
	f				ἐρῠσᾰμένη
	n				ἐρῠσᾰ́μενον
Notes:	Dialects other than Attic are not well attested. Some forms are based on conjecture. Use with caution. For more details, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Aorist: εἰρῠσᾰ́μην (Epic)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
middle	indicative	εἰρῠσᾰ́μην	εἰρῠ́σᾰο	εἰρῠ́σᾰτο	εἰρῠ́σᾰσθον	εἰρῠσᾰ́σθην	εἰρῠσᾰ́με(σ)θᾰ	εἰρῠ́σᾰσθε	εἰρῠ́σᾰντο
	subjunctive	εἰρῠ́σσωμαι, εἰρῠ́σσομαι	εἰρῠ́σσῃ, εἰρῠ́σσεαι	εἰρῠ́σσηται, εἰρῠ́σσεται	εἰρῠ́σσησθον	εἰρῠ́σσησθον	εἰρῠσσώμε(σ)θᾰ, εἰρῠσσόμε(σ)θᾰ	εἰρῠ́σσησθε	εἰρῠ́σσωνται
	optative	εἰρῠσσαίμην	εἰρῠ́σσαιο	εἰρῠ́σσαιτο	εἰρῠ́σσαισθον	εἰρῠσσαίσθην	εἰρῠσσαίμε(σ)θᾰ	εἰρῠ́σσαισθε	εἰρῠσσαίᾰτο
	imperative		εἴρῠσσαι	εἰρῠσσᾰ́σθω	εἰρῠ́σσᾰσθον	εἰρῠσσᾰ́σθων		εἰρῠ́σσᾰσθε	εἰρῠσσᾰ́σθων
					middle
infinitive					εἰρῠ́σσᾰσθαι
participle	m				εἰρῠσσᾰ́μενος
	f				εἰρῠσσᾰμένη
	n				εἰρῠσσᾰ́μενον
Notes:	Dialects other than Attic are not well attested. Some forms are based on conjecture. Use with caution. For more details, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Aorist: εἰρῠσσᾰ́μην (Epic)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
middle	indicative	εἰρῠσσᾰ́μην	εἰρῠ́σσᾰο	εἰρῠ́σσᾰτο	εἰρῠ́σσᾰσθον	εἰρῠσσᾰ́σθην	εἰρῠσσᾰ́με(σ)θᾰ	εἰρῠ́σσᾰσθε	εἰρῠ́σσᾰντο
	subjunctive	εἰρῠ́σσωμαι, εἰρῠ́σσομαι	εἰρῠ́σσῃ, εἰρῠ́σσεαι	εἰρῠ́σσηται, εἰρῠ́σσεται	εἰρῠ́σσησθον	εἰρῠ́σσησθον	εἰρῠσσώμε(σ)θᾰ, εἰρῠσσόμε(σ)θᾰ	εἰρῠ́σσησθε	εἰρῠ́σσωνται
	optative	εἰρῠσσαίμην	εἰρῠ́σσαιο	εἰρῠ́σσαιτο	εἰρῠ́σσαισθον	εἰρῠσσαίσθην	εἰρῠσσαίμε(σ)θᾰ	εἰρῠ́σσαισθε	εἰρῠσσαίᾰτο
	imperative		εἴρῠσσαι	εἰρῠσσᾰ́σθω	εἰρῠ́σσᾰσθον	εἰρῠσσᾰ́σθων		εἰρῠ́σσᾰσθε	εἰρῠσσᾰ́σθων
					middle
infinitive					εἰρῠ́σσᾰσθαι
participle	m				εἰρῠσσᾰ́μενος
	f				εἰρῠσσᾰμένη
	n				εἰρῠσσᾰ́μενον
Notes:	Dialects other than Attic are not well attested. Some forms are based on conjecture. Use with caution. For more details, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Aorist: ἐρρῡσᾰ́μην (Epic)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
middle	indicative	ἐρρῡσᾰ́μην	ἐρρῡ́σᾰο	ἐρρῡ́σᾰτο	ἐρρῡ́σᾰσθον	ἐρρῡσᾰ́σθην	ἐρρῡσᾰ́με(σ)θᾰ	ἐρρῡ́σᾰσθε	ἐρρῡ́σᾰντο
	subjunctive	ῥῡ́σωμαι, ῥῡ́σομαι	ῥῡ́σῃ, ῥῡ́σεαι	ῥῡ́σηται, ῥῡ́σεται	ῥῡ́σησθον	ῥῡ́σησθον	ῥῡσώμε(σ)θᾰ, ῥῡσόμε(σ)θᾰ	ῥῡ́σησθε	ῥῡ́σωνται
	optative	ῥῡσαίμην	ῥῡ́σαιο	ῥῡ́σαιτο	ῥῡ́σαισθον	ῥῡσαίσθην	ῥῡσαίμε(σ)θᾰ	ῥῡ́σαισθε	ῥῡσαίᾰτο
	imperative		ῥῦσαι	ῥῡσᾰ́σθω	ῥῡ́σᾰσθον	ῥῡσᾰ́σθων		ῥῡ́σᾰσθε	ῥῡσᾰ́σθων
					middle
infinitive					ῥῡ́σᾰσθαι
participle	m				ῥῡσᾰ́μενος
	f				ῥῡσᾰμένη
	n				ῥῡσᾰ́μενον
Notes:	Dialects other than Attic are not well attested. Some forms are based on conjecture. Use with caution. For more details, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

References

^ Lucien van Beek (10 March 2025), Language Change in Epic Greek and Other Poetic Traditions‎^[1], Brill, →DOI, →ISBN, page 24
^ Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010), “ἔρυμαι”, in Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 10), with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, page 466

“ἐρύω (B)”, in Liddell & Scott (1940), A Greek–English Lexicon, Oxford: Clarendon Press
“ῥύομαι”, in Liddell & Scott (1889), An Intermediate Greek–English Lexicon, New York: Harper & Brothers
“ῥύομαι”, in Autenrieth, Georg (1891), A Homeric Dictionary for Schools and Colleges, New York: Harper and Brothers
ῥύομαι in Bailly, Anatole (1935), Le Grand Bailly: Dictionnaire grec-français, Paris: Hachette
ῥύομαι in Cunliffe, Richard J. (1924), A Lexicon of the Homeric Dialect: Expanded Edition, Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, published 1963
“ῥύομαι”, in Slater, William J. (1969), Lexicon to Pindar, Berlin: Walter de Gruyter
G4506 in Strong, James (1979), Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance to the Bible

[1] Lucien van Beek (10 March 2025), Language Change in Epic Greek and Other Poetic Traditions‎^[1], Brill, →DOI, →ISBN, page 24

[2] Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010), “ἔρυμαι”, in Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 10), with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, page 466

[1]

[2]