βασιλεύς

Ancient Greek

Alternative forms

  • βᾰσῐλῆος (basilêos) – Homeric, genitive
  • βᾰσῐλῆϝος (basilêwos) – Arcadocypriot, genitive
  • 𐠞𐠪𐠐𐠵𐠩‎ (pa-si-le-wo-se) – Cypriot, Cypriot syllabary

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. Mostly likely Pre-Greek in origin (i.e. Minoan), but possibly from an Anatolian language (see Lydian 𐤡𐤠𐤯𐤯𐤬𐤳 (battos, “king”)), although Mycenean (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

 

Noun

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

  1. chief, master
  2. king, lord, patron
  3. the first of any class of people/objects

Usage notes

During specific periods of Greek history βασιλεύς 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).

Inflection

Derived terms

Descendants

References

Greek

Noun

βασιλεύς • (vasiléfs) m (plural βασιλείς)

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