χήρα

Ancient Greek

Alternative forms

  • χήρη (khḗrē) Ionic

Etymology

This word replaced the old word for "widow" found in Latin vidua; a cognate of this is retained in ἠΐθεος (ēḯtheos, unmarried youth). It is assumed that the origin of this word is Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰeh₁ro- (derelict), from the root *ǵʰeh₁- (to leave behind, abandon); compare Sanskrit जहाति (jahāti, to desert, leave, resign) and Latin hērēs (heir).

Pronunciation

 

Noun

χήρᾱ • (khḗrā) f (genitive χήρᾱς); first declension

  1. widow

Declension

Derived terms

  • χῆρος (khêros)

Descendants

  • Greek: χήρα (chíra)
  • Pontic Greek: χ̌έρα (šéra), χ̌όρα (šóra)
  • Laz: შირა (şira)

Further reading

Greek

Etymology

From Ancient Greek χήρα (khḗra), possibly from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰeh₁ro- (derelict), from the root *ǵʰeh₁- (to leave behind, abandon). Cognate with Latin heres.[1][2]

Noun

χήρα • (chíra) f (plural χήρες, masculine χήρος)

  1. widow, relict

Declension

References

  1. Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010) Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 10), with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN
  2. De Vaan, Michiel (2008) Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 7), Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN
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