βασιλεύς

Ancient Greek

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Proto-Hellenic *gʷatiléus, with σ (s) developing by assibilation. Cognate with Mycenaean Greek 𐀣𐀯𐀩𐀄 (qa-si-re-u), that is, *gʷasileus. Further etymology uncertain. Multiple Indo-European etymologies have been advanced. Beekes considers it Pre-Greek in origin. Possibly from an Anatolian language (see Lydian 𐤡𐤠𐤯𐤯𐤬𐤳 (pattoš, “king”)), although the Mycenaean (Linear B) evidence points to an original form with initial gʷ.

Case-forms show Attic shortening of the original stem βασιληϝ- (basilēw-); see quantitative metathesis.

Pronunciation
 
  • Hyphenation: βα‧σι‧λεύς

Noun

βᾰσῐλεύς • (basileús) m (genitive βᾰσῐλέως); third declension

  1. chief, master
  2. king, lord, patron

Usage notes

Greek leaders ruling in distant lands, such as those of Ptolemaic Egypt, often use the word βασιλεύς to convey authority, an example of this is exemplified in the use of the phrase ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ (Ptolemaiou Basileos) on Ptolemaic coinage minted for use in Egypt. During specific periods of Greek history, βασιλεύς (basileús) was used to describe certain foreign leaders of comparable authority, such as the Persian kings and Roman Caesars. In this usage, it often took on certain modifications, such as a lack of definite article or the use of the adjective μέγας (mégas).

Declension
Third declension of ὁ βᾰσῐλεύς; τοῦ βᾰσῐλέως (Attic)
Case / # Singular Dual Plural
Nominative ὁ βᾰσῐλεύς
ho basileús		 τὼ βᾰσῐλῆ
tṑ basilê		 οἱ βᾰσῐλῆς / βᾰσῐλεῖς
hoi basilês / basileîs
Genitive τοῦ βᾰσῐλέως
toû basiléōs		 τοῖν βᾰσῐλέοιν
toîn basiléoin		 τῶν βᾰσῐλέων
tôn basiléōn
Dative τῷ βᾰσῐλεῖ
tôi basileî		 τοῖν βᾰσῐλέοιν
toîn basiléoin		 τοῖς βᾰσῐλεῦσῐ / βᾰσῐλεῦσῐν
toîs basileûsi(n)
Accusative τὸν βᾰσῐλέᾱ
tòn basiléā		 τὼ βᾰσῐλῆ
tṑ basilê		 τοὺς βᾰσῐλέᾱς
toùs basiléās
Vocative βᾰσῐλεῦ
basileû		 βᾰσῐλῆ
basilê		 βᾰσῐλῆς / βᾰσῐλεῖς
basilês / basileîs
Notes:
  • This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For declension in other dialects, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal declension.
Third declension of βᾰσῐλεύς; βᾰσῐλῆος (Epic)
Case / # Singular Dual Plural
Nominative βᾰσῐλεύς
basileús		 βᾰσῐλῆε
basilêe		 βᾰσῐλῆες
basilêes
Genitive βᾰσῐλῆος / βᾰσῐλέος
basilêos / basiléos		 βᾰσῐλήοιῐν
basilḗoiin		 βᾰσῐλήων
basilḗōn
Dative βᾰσῐλῆῐ̈ / βᾰσῐλέῐ̈
basilêï / basiléï		 βᾰσῐλήοιῐν
basilḗoiin		 βᾰσῐλήεσσῐ / βᾰσῐλήεσσῐν / βᾰσῐλεῦσῐ / βᾰσῐλεῦσῐν
basilḗessi(n) / basileûsi(n)
Accusative βᾰσῐλῆᾰ / βᾰσῐλέᾰ
basilêa / basiléa		 βᾰσῐλῆε
basilêe		 βᾰσῐλῆᾰς
basilêas
Vocative βᾰσῐλεῦ
basileû		 βᾰσῐλῆε
basilêe		 βᾰσῐλῆες
basilêes
Notes:
  • Dialects other than Attic are not well attested. Some forms may be based on conjecture. Use with caution.

Derived terms

Descendants

Further reading

Greek

Etymology

From Ancient Greek βασιλεύς.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /vasiˈlefs/
  • Audio(file)
  • Hyphenation: βα‧σι‧λεύς

Noun

βασιλεύς • (vasiléfs) m (plural βασιλείς)

  1. Katharevousa form of βασιλιάς (vasiliás, “king”)
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