αἰτέω

Ancient Greek

Alternative forms

• αἴτημι (aítēmi) — Aeolic

Etymology

A denominative of an unattested *αἶτος (*aîtos, “something given: allotment, share”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ey- (“to give, take”), whence also αἴνυμαι (aínumai), αἶσα (aîsa), αἴτιος (aítios), διαιτάω (diaitáō).

Pronunciation

 

• IPA^(key): /ai̯.té.ɔː/ → /ɛˈte.o/ → /eˈte.o/

• (5^th BCE Attic) IPA^(key): /ai̯.té.ɔː/
• (1^st CE Egyptian) IPA^(key): /ɛˈte.o/
• (4^th CE Koine) IPA^(key): /ɛˈte.o/
• (10^th CE Byzantine) IPA^(key): /eˈte.o/
• (15^th CE Constantinopolitan) IPA^(key): /eˈte.o/

Verb

αἰτέω • (aitéō)

1. (usually transitive) to ask for, crave, demand, beg [with accusative ‘something’; or with accusative ‘something’ and accusative ‘from someone’]; or with object omitted
   • 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Iliad 5.358
   • 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Odyssey 17.365
   • 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Odyssey 10.17
   • 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Odyssey 20.74
   • 460 BCE – 420 BCE, Herodotus, Histories 5.17
   • 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Iliad 22.295
   • 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Odyssey 2.387
   • 460 BCE – 420 BCE, Herodotus, Histories 3.1
   • 460 BCE – 420 BCE, Herodotus, Histories 8.114
   • 6th century BC, Theognis of Megara, Elegies 556
   • 430 BCE – 354 BCE, Xenophon, Anabasis 1.3.16
   • 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Odyssey 18.49
   • 470 BCE, Aeschylus, The Suppliants 340
   1. (transitive) to ask for [with accusative ‘someone’ and infinitive ‘to do something’]
      • 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Odyssey 3.173
      • 406 BCE, Sophocles, Oedipus at Colonus 1334
      • 442 BCE, Sophocles, Antigone 65
      • 428 BCE – 347 BCE, Plato, Eryxias 398E
   2. (logic, transitive) to postulate, assume
      • 384 BCE – 322 BCE, Aristotle, Prior Analytics 1.24.2
      • 384 BCE – 322 BCE, Aristotle, Topics 8.13.2
2. (middle voice, transitive) to ask for oneself, for one's own use or purpose, to claim
   • 458 BCE, Aeschylus, The Libation Bearers 480
   • 460 BCE – 420 BCE, Herodotus, Histories 1.90
   • 460 BCE – 420 BCE, Herodotus, Histories 9.34
   • 525 BCE – 455 BCE, Aeschylus, Prometheus Bound 822
   • 480 BCE – 411 BCE, Antiphon of Rhamnus, Collected Works 112.41
   • 458 BCE, Aeschylus, The Libation Bearers 480
   • 442 BCE, Sophocles, Antigone 778
   • 445 BCE – 380 BCE, Lysias, Collected Works 154.24
   • 342 BCE – 290 BCE, Menander, Hymnis 5
   • 445 BCE – 380 BCE, Lysias, Collected Works 141.35
3. (passive voice, of persons) to have a thing begged of one
   • 460 BCE – 420 BCE, Herodotus, Histories 8.111
   • 460 BCE – 395 BCE, Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War 2.97
   • 300 BCE – 200 BCE, Theocritus, Collected Works 14.63
   • 522 BCE – 443 BCE, Pindar, Isthmian Ode 8.10
   1. (of things) to be asked for
      • 460 BCE – 420 BCE, Herodotus, Histories 8.112
      • 445 BCE – 380 BCE, Lysias, Collected Works 169.17

Inflection

   Present: αἰτέω, αἰτέομαι (Uncontracted)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	αἰτέω	αἰτέεις	αἰτέει	αἰτέετον	αἰτέετον	αἰτέομεν	αἰτέετε	αἰτέουσῐ(ν)
	subjunctive	αἰτέω	αἰτέῃς	αἰτέῃ	αἰτέητον	αἰτέητον	αἰτέωμεν	αἰτέητε	αἰτέωσῐ(ν)
	optative	αἰτέοιμῐ	αἰτέοις	αἰτέοι	αἰτέοιτον	αἰτεοίτην	αἰτέοιμεν	αἰτέοιτε	αἰτέοιεν
	imperative		αἴτεε	αἰτεέτω	αἰτέετον	αἰτεέτων		αἰτέετε	αἰτεόντων
middle/ passive	indicative	αἰτέομαι	αἰτέῃ, αἰτέει	αἰτέεται	αἰτέεσθον	αἰτέεσθον	αἰτεόμεθᾰ	αἰτέεσθε	αἰτέονται
	subjunctive	αἰτέωμαι	αἰτέῃ	αἰτέηται	αἰτέησθον	αἰτέησθον	αἰτεώμεθᾰ	αἰτέησθε	αἰτέωνται
	optative	αἰτεοίμην	αἰτέοιο	αἰτέοιτο	αἰτέοισθον	αἰτεοίσθην	αἰτεοίμεθᾰ	αἰτέοισθε	αἰτέοιντο
	imperative		αἰτέου	αἰτεέσθω	αἰτέεσθον	αἰτεέσθων		αἰτέεσθε	αἰτεέσθων
		active				middle/passive
infinitive		αἰτέειν				αἰτέεσθαι
participle	m	αἰτέων				αἰτεόμενος
	f	αἰτέουσᾰ				αἰτεομένη
	n	αἰτέον				αἰτεόμενον
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Present: αἰτῶ, αἰτοῦμαι (Contracted)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	αἰτῶ	αἰτεῖς	αἰτεῖ	αἰτεῖτον	αἰτεῖτον	αἰτοῦμεν	αἰτεῖτε	αἰτοῦσῐ(ν)
	subjunctive	αἰτῶ	αἰτῇς	αἰτῇ	αἰτῆτον	αἰτῆτον	αἰτῶμεν	αἰτῆτε	αἰτῶσῐ(ν)
	optative	αἰτοίην, αἰτοῖμῐ	αἰτοίης, αἰτοῖς	αἰτοίη, αἰτοῖ	αἰτοῖτον, αἰτοίητον	αἰτοίτην, αἰτοιήτην	αἰτοῖμεν, αἰτοίημεν	αἰτοῖτε, αἰτοίητε	αἰτοῖεν, αἰτοίησᾰν
	imperative		αἴτει	αἰτείτω	αἰτεῖτον	αἰτείτων		αἰτεῖτε	αἰτούντων
middle/ passive	indicative	αἰτοῦμαι	αἰτεῖ, αἰτῇ	αἰτεῖται	αἰτεῖσθον	αἰτεῖσθον	αἰτούμεθᾰ	αἰτεῖσθε	αἰτοῦνται
	subjunctive	αἰτῶμαι	αἰτῇ	αἰτῆται	αἰτῆσθον	αἰτῆσθον	αἰτώμεθᾰ	αἰτῆσθε	αἰτῶνται
	optative	αἰτοίμην	αἰτοῖο	αἰτοῖτο	αἰτοῖσθον	αἰτοίσθην	αἰτοίμεθᾰ	αἰτοῖσθε	αἰτοῖντο
	imperative		αἰτοῦ	αἰτείσθω	αἰτεῖσθον	αἰτείσθων		αἰτεῖσθε	αἰτείσθων
		active				middle/passive
infinitive		αἰτεῖν				αἰτεῖσθαι
participle	m	αἰτῶν				αἰτούμενος
	f	αἰτοῦσᾰ				αἰτουμένη
	n	αἰτοῦν				αἰτούμενον
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Imperfect: ᾔτεον, ᾐτεόμην (Uncontracted)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	ᾔτεον	ᾔτεες	ᾔτεε(ν)	ᾐτέετον	ᾐτεέτην	ᾐτέομεν	ᾐτέετε	ᾔτεον
middle/ passive	indicative	ᾐτεόμην	ᾐτέου	ᾐτέετο	ᾐτέεσθον	ᾐτεέσθην	ᾐτεόμεθᾰ	ᾐτέεσθε	ᾐτέοντο
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Imperfect: ᾔτουν, ᾐτούμην (Contracted)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	ᾔτουν	ᾔτεις	ᾔτει	ᾐτεῖτον	ᾐτείτην	ᾐτοῦμεν	ᾐτεῖτε	ᾔτουν
middle/ passive	indicative	ᾐτούμην	ᾐτοῦ	ᾐτεῖτο	ᾐτεῖσθον	ᾐτείσθην	ᾐτούμεθᾰ	ᾐτεῖσθε	ᾐτοῦντο
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Future: αἰτήσω, αἰτήσομαι

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	αἰτήσω	αἰτήσεις	αἰτήσει	αἰτήσετον	αἰτήσετον	αἰτήσομεν	αἰτήσετε	αἰτήσουσῐ(ν)
	optative	αἰτήσοιμῐ	αἰτήσοις	αἰτήσοι	αἰτήσοιτον	αἰτησοίτην	αἰτήσοιμεν	αἰτήσοιτε	αἰτήσοιεν
middle	indicative	αἰτήσομαι	αἰτήσῃ, αἰτήσει	αἰτήσεται	αἰτήσεσθον	αἰτήσεσθον	αἰτησόμεθᾰ	αἰτήσεσθε	αἰτήσονται
	optative	αἰτησοίμην	αἰτήσοιο	αἰτήσοιτο	αἰτήσοισθον	αἰτησοίσθην	αἰτησοίμεθᾰ	αἰτήσοισθε	αἰτήσοιντο
		active			middle
infinitive		αἰτήσειν			αἰτήσεσθαι
participle	m	αἰτήσων			αἰτησόμενος
	f	αἰτήσουσᾰ			αἰτησομένη
	n	αἰτῆσον			αἰτησόμενον
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Aorist: ᾔτησᾰ, ᾐτησᾰ́μην

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	ᾔτησᾰ	ᾔτησᾰς	ᾔτησε(ν)	ᾐτήσᾰτον	ᾐτησᾰ́την	ᾐτήσᾰμεν	ᾐτήσᾰτε	ᾔτησᾰν
	subjunctive	αἰτήσω	αἰτήσῃς	αἰτήσῃ	αἰτήσητον	αἰτήσητον	αἰτήσωμεν	αἰτήσητε	αἰτήσωσῐ(ν)
	optative	αἰτήσαιμῐ	αἰτήσειᾰς, αἰτήσαις	αἰτήσειε(ν), αἰτήσαι	αἰτήσαιτον	αἰτησαίτην	αἰτήσαιμεν	αἰτήσαιτε	αἰτήσειᾰν, αἰτήσαιεν
	imperative		αἴτησον	αἰτησᾰ́τω	αἰτήσᾰτον	αἰτησᾰ́των		αἰτήσᾰτε	αἰτησᾰ́ντων
middle	indicative	ᾐτησᾰ́μην	ᾐτήσω	ᾐτήσᾰτο	ᾐτήσᾰσθον	ᾐτησᾰ́σθην	ᾐτησᾰ́μεθᾰ	ᾐτήσᾰσθε	ᾐτήσᾰντο
	subjunctive	αἰτήσωμαι	αἰτήσῃ	αἰτήσηται	αἰτήσησθον	αἰτήσησθον	αἰτησώμεθᾰ	αἰτήσησθε	αἰτήσωνται
	optative	αἰτησαίμην	αἰτήσαιο	αἰτήσαιτο	αἰτήσαισθον	αἰτησαίσθην	αἰτησαίμεθᾰ	αἰτήσαισθε	αἰτήσαιντο
	imperative		αἴτησαι	αἰτησᾰ́σθω	αἰτήσᾰσθον	αἰτησᾰ́σθων		αἰτήσᾰσθε	αἰτησᾰ́σθων
		active			middle
infinitive		αἰτῆσαι			αἰτήσᾰσθαι
participle	m	αἰτήσᾱς			αἰτησᾰ́μενος
	f	αἰτήσᾱσᾰ			αἰτησᾰμένη
	n	αἰτῆσᾰν			αἰτησᾰ́μενον
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Perfect: ᾔτηκᾰ, ᾔτημαι

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	ᾔτηκᾰ	ᾔτηκᾰς	ᾔτηκε(ν)	ᾐτήκᾰτον	ᾐτήκᾰτον	ᾐτήκᾰμεν	ᾐτήκᾰτε	ᾐτήκᾱσῐ(ν)
	subjunctive	ᾐτήκω	ᾐτήκῃς	ᾐτήκῃ	ᾐτήκητον	ᾐτήκητον	ᾐτήκωμεν	ᾐτήκητε	ᾐτήκωσῐ(ν)
	optative	ᾐτήκοιμῐ, ᾐτηκοίην	ᾐτήκοις, ᾐτηκοίης	ᾐτήκοι, ᾐτηκοίη	ᾐτήκοιτον	ᾐτηκοίτην	ᾐτήκοιμεν	ᾐτήκοιτε	ᾐτήκοιεν
	imperative		ᾔτηκε	ᾐτηκέτω	ᾐτήκετον	ᾐτηκέτων		ᾐτήκετε	ᾐτηκόντων
middle/ passive	indicative	ᾔτημαι	ᾔτησαι	ᾔτηται	ᾔτησθον	ᾔτησθον	ᾐτήμεθᾰ	ᾔτησθε	ᾔτηνται
	subjunctive	ᾐτημένος ὦ	ᾐτημένος ᾖς	ᾐτημένος ᾖ	ᾐτημένω ἦτον	ᾐτημένω ἦτον	ᾐτημένοι ὦμεν	ᾐτημένοι ἦτε	ᾐτημένοι ὦσῐ(ν)
	optative	ᾐτημένος εἴην	ᾐτημένος εἴης	ᾐτημένος εἴη	ᾐτημένω εἴητον/εἶτον	ᾐτημένω εἰήτην/εἴτην	ᾐτημένοι εἴημεν/εἶμεν	ᾐτημένοι εἴητε/εἶτε	ᾐτημένοι εἴησᾰν/εἶεν
	imperative		ᾔτησο	ᾐτήσθω	ᾔτησθον	ᾐτήσθων		ᾔτησθε	ᾐτήσθων
		active				middle/passive
infinitive		ᾐτηκέναι				ᾐτῆσθαι
participle	m	ᾐτηκώς				ᾐτημένος
	f	ᾐτηκυῖᾰ				ᾐτημένη
	n	ᾐτηκός				ᾐτημένον
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Pluperfect: ᾐτήκειν, ᾐτήμην

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	ᾐτήκειν, ᾐτήκη	ᾐτήκεις, ᾐτήκης	ᾐτήκει(ν)	ᾐτήκετον	ᾐτηκέτην	ᾐτήκεμεν	ᾐτήκετε	ᾐτήκεσᾰν
middle/ passive	indicative	ᾐτήμην	ᾔτησο	ᾔτητο	ᾔτησθον	ᾐτήσθην	ᾐτήμεθᾰ	ᾔτησθε	ᾔτηντο
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Synonyms

• (beg): δέομαι (déomai), αἰτίζω (aitízō)

Derived terms

• αἴτημα (aítēma)
• αἴτησις (aítēsis)
• αἰτητής (aitētḗs)
• αἰτητός (aitētós)
• αἰτίζω (aitízō)
• παραιτέομαι (paraitéomai)

 

Further reading

• “αἰτέω”, in Liddell & Scott (1940) A Greek–English Lexicon, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• “αἰτέω”, in Liddell & Scott (1889) An Intermediate Greek–English Lexicon, New York: Harper & Brothers
• “αἰτέω”, in Autenrieth, Georg (1891) A Homeric Dictionary for Schools and Colleges, New York: Harper and Brothers
• αἰτέω in Bailly, Anatole (1935) Le Grand Bailly: Dictionnaire grec-français, Paris: Hachette
• αἰτέω in Cunliffe, Richard J. (1924) A Lexicon of the Homeric Dialect: Expanded Edition, Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, published 1963
• αἰτέω in the Diccionario Griego–Español en línea (2006–2024)
• “αἰτέω”, in Slater, William J. (1969) Lexicon to Pindar, Berlin: Walter de Gruyter
• G154 in Strong, James (1979) Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance to the Bible
• “αἰτέω”, in ΛΟΓΕΙΟΝ [Logeion] Dictionaries for Ancient Greek and Latin (in English, French, Spanish, German, Dutch and Chinese), University of Chicago, since 2011