τιταίνω

Word

Validation

Yes

Word-form

Τιτῆνας

Word-lemma

LSJ

Etymon-lemma

LSJ

Transliteration (Word)

titanes

English translation (word)

Titans

Transliteration (Etymon)

titainō

English translation (etymon)

stretch

Author

Hesiod

Century

8/7 BC

Source

Idem

Ref.

Theogony 207-210

Ed.

M. L. West, Hesiod: Theogony, Oxford University Press, 1966

Quotation

τοὺς δὲ πατὴρ Τιτῆνας ἐπίκλησιν καλέεσκε// παῖδας νεικείων μέγας Οὐρανός, οὓς τέκεν αὐτός·// φάσκε δὲ τιταίνοντας ἀτασθαλίῃ μέγα ῥέξαι// ἔργον, τοῖο δ' ἔπειτα τίσιν μετόπισθεν ἔσεσθαι

Translation (En)

But these sons whom he begot himself great Heaven used to call titans (“Strainers”) in reproach, for he said that they “strained” (titainontas) and did presumptuously a fearful deed, and that vengeance for it would come afterwards

Comment

These lines contain a second etymological proposition (tisis = vengeance ; see also titos (avenged) in Scholia in Il. (scholia vetera), ed. Erbse, 14.279b).

Bibliography

K. Strunk, "Frühe Vokalveränderungen in der griechischen Literatur," Glotta 38 (1960): 74-89.

Modern etymology

No clear etymology according to Chantraine (1977, 1122)

Persistence in Modern Greek

"Τιτάνας" is still used in MG to denote: a) the mythical deities and b) a human being with exquisite physical or mental potential (Triandafyllidis, Dictionary of MG)

Entry By

Arnaud Zucker
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