ἀρά

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Ancient Greek

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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Arcadocypriot Greek καταρϝος (katarwos, cursed) suggests a preform Proto-Hellenic *arwā, which makes Attic -ᾱ hard to explain; would be expected after *w. Not cognate with Latin āra (altar). Possibly related to Hittite [Term?] (/⁠aruwae-⁠/, to bow).

Pronunciation

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Noun

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ἀ̆ρά̄ (ará̄f (genitive ἀ̆ρᾶς); first declension

  1. prayer, invocation
    • 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Iliad 15.378:
      Ὣς ἔφατ’ εὐχόμενος, μέγα δ’ ἔκτυπε μητίετα Ζεύς, ἀράων ἀΐων Νηληϊάδαο γέροντος.
      Hṑs éphat’ eukhómenos, méga d’ éktupe mētíeta Zeús, aráōn aḯōn Nēlēïádao gérontos.
      • 1925 translation by A. T. Murray
        So spake he in prayer, and Zeus the counsellor thundered aloud, hearing the prayer[s] of the aged son of Neleus
  2. imprecation, curse, malediction

Declension

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Further reading

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