| This dictionary consists of Greek terms you are likely to run across
in an English text. The basic list was created from my notes in reading
English texts containing a smattering of Greek words along definitions
of those words. Unfortunately, I do not have a mastery of Greek.
However, Vincent
Hevern (who actually has some knowledge about ancient Greek)
has been kind enough to assist by adding and correcting some of the definitions
in my original list. When I thought the "derivative meaning" (that
was not true to the ancient Greek meaning) was a meaning you might find,
nevertheless, in an English text, I left it as an second definition as
in the case of the word "logos." You must, of course, decide which
meaning makes most sense in context.
If you want more, I refer you to the wonderful, but unwieldly, Greek dictionary available online through the Perseus Project. |
acharistos
ungracious, unpleasant
agapêsis
affection
agathon
the good
agatha -
good
aphona -
mutes
Aletheia -
objectivity
alexeteria -
protections or screens
alexipharmapaskhein -
antidote science of easure
aniara - (aniaros)
painful, troublesome
amunterion -
protection
amunteria -
defenses
anamnesis -
a way of remembering
aphrodesia
sexual or physical pleasure
arithmein-
counting
asuntheton -
simple, indivisible
boetheia - assistance
boethein - support
charis
A consent that a woman gives a man
(Foucalt, The Care of the Self, p.206),
also kindness (Foucault, p.207)
This is a recent meaning of charis. Earlier the term
grace, thankfulness, favor or the granting of one's favor.
chairein - (khairein )
pleasure
D
deinon -
the strange
desmon -
unity
diairesis-
dividing and collecting
doxa-
opinion
doxosohoi-
fake or self-proclaimed
wise men. (Plato's dfinition of
a sophist).
diairesis-
dividing and collecting
eidos -
that which can be imitated,
reproduced, repeated in its identity,
repeated as the same
eros
love
ethelxe
beguile something
ekgonos
offspring
ekgona -
offspring
ekmageion -
impressions
elenchus -
refutation
epoidon -
or enchanter (via music or song), a charmer
eunoia
mutual kindness
euetheia - foolishness
goes -
wizard
goeteia -
sorcery, jugglery
goetas -
quacks
graphema -
piece of writing
histanai
weighing
holiday
heorte
hubris-
a wanton violence derived from
overweening pride or excessive self-absorption;
insolence
humnos -
hymn, song to the gods, a mournful dirge
hypomnesis - mechanical
devices substituted for truth
ikhnos - trace
tauton ikhnos - footsteps
khairein (or chairein)
pleasure
krinein -
to deccide
kulindeit
rolls
lethe
death and oblivion
logon
reason
logos -
The word "logos" in Greek has an extraordinary range of meanings
-- the
heart of which is both "meaning" and "reckoning". Hence, it
may refer to a
"word" or a "thought" or a spoken phrase or an idea or that
which conveys
something which, to the hearer, is meaningful and, thus, can
move them. It
can be an accounting or a story, a tale, narrative, or fable.
It can refer
to a theory, a rule of law or of conduct, a scientific hypothesis
or lawful
observation regarding reality or nature. Within the individual
it can refer
to a mental argument or a pondering of the reasons for/against.
Thus, it
also means thinking or the faculty of reason. More generally,
it may refer
to speech, talk, spoken stories or tales, and, even, rumors
or everyday
conversation. There is often a connotative sense of a deepened
reality
which is referenced by "logos". Hence, for example, the gospel
of John in
the Christian Bible begins with the phrase "in the beginning
was the Word
and the Word was with God and the Word was God" -- and "logos"
is the word
used for "Word" in all three places ("en arche ein ho logos
kai ho logos
ein pros ton theon kai theon ein ho logos").
Also, the power of logos in relation
to the condition of the soul is
is sometimes compared to that of drugs. Some logoi cause
pain, others
delight, others fear, some make their hearers confident
and
courageous while others drug and bewitch the sould with
a kind of
evil persuasion. the power of logos in relation to the
condition of the soul is comparable to that of drugs.
Some logoi cause pain, others
delight, others fear, some make their hearers confident
and courageous while
others drug and bewitch the sould with a kind of evil persuasion.
logos gegrammenos
speech
manikos
scatterbrained
metrein -
measuring
mneme -
live memory
nomos
-law
noesis
the intuited
perceived by the mind
apprehended, thought about
paidia
a childish game or amusement
opposite of spoude
paradeigmatos
pattern
pater
the chief, the capital, the goods
peitho
persuasion, eloquent persuasion
phainomenon
appearance
phantasma
(the copy of a copy) or "simulacrum".
phantasm
appearance
pharmakeia
pigments
pharmaka
plural of pharmakon
also painter's colors
pharmakon
it means both remedy
and poison, and in ancient Greek
it also means to paint with an arti-
ficial color, a chemical dye, that
imitates nature. Also, perfume.phone
- sound phoneenta (ta) - vowells
phronein
prudence
problemata
problems
phone
experience, voice
pharmakou
particular color
phragmata
fences
pistis
loytality
repli-
folding back
sapheneia -
clarity
sophi
wise men
skiagraphia
scene painting
sophrosune
moderation, soundness of mind and judgment,
temperance and self-control
spoude
haste, zeal, effort
and also earnestness
and, derivately, an act undertaken seriously.
spoutdi
serious intent
stoikheia
elements or letters
summeikton-
mixture
stoikheion
elementary sounds
synagoge
analysis and synthesis
tauton ikhnos
footsteps
thaumatopoia -
witchcraft
tekhne -
art
timê
mutual respect
tupoi
imprints
zographema
portrait
zoon
living thing, living creature