λύω

See also: λυῶ

Ancient Greek

Etymology

From Proto-Indo-European *lewh₁- (“to cut off, separate, free”), (which Beekes reconstructs as *lh₁u-). Cognates include Latin luō (“expiate, pay”), Sanskrit लुनाति (lunā́ti, “to sever, cut forth, destroy, annihilate”), English loose, and possibly Old Armenian լուծանեմ (lucanem) and Albanian lirë.

According to Beekes the stem vowel was originally short (λῠ-), to be lengthened only later in Attic (and sometimes in Homer; λῡ-) due to the influence of a laryngeal. The upsilon remains short (ῠ) before temporal endings beginning with <κ, θ, μ> and at all paragoga (derivatives). But compounds' prosody, as for λῡ́ω.

Derivatives, from stems λῠσ-, λῠσῐ- (compounds with λῡσῐ-), λῠτ-.

Unrelated to κωλῡ́ω (kōlū́ō, “prevent”), ὄλλῡμῐ (óllūmĭ, “destroy, lose”) or λύσσᾰ (lússă, “rage”).

Pronunciation

 

• IPA^(key): /ly̌ː.ɔː/ → /ˈly.o/ → /ˈli.o/

• (5^th BCE Attic) IPA^(key): /ly̌ː.ɔː/
• (1^st CE Egyptian) IPA^(key): /ˈly.o/
• (4^th CE Koine) IPA^(key): /ˈly.o/
• (10^th CE Byzantine) IPA^(key): /ˈly.o/
• (15^th CE Constantinopolitan) IPA^(key): /ˈli.o/

Verb

λῡ́ω • (lū́ō)

1. to loose, loosen, untie
2. to slacken
3. to unbend
4. to set free, release
5. to redeem
6. to dissolve, sever
7. to break (up), destroy
8. to abrogate, annul
9. to atone, amend
10. to profit, to be useful
11. to discharge, fulfill, pay off

Inflection

   Present: λῡ́ω, λῡ́ομαι

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	λῡ́ω	λῡ́εις	λῡ́ει	λῡ́ετον	λῡ́ετον	λῡ́ομεν	λῡ́ετε	λῡ́ουσῐ(ν)
	subjunctive	λῡ́ω	λῡ́ῃς	λῡ́ῃ	λῡ́ητον	λῡ́ητον	λῡ́ωμεν	λῡ́ητε	λῡ́ωσῐ(ν)
	optative	λῡ́οιμῐ	λῡ́οις	λῡ́οι	λῡ́οιτον	λῡοίτην	λῡ́οιμεν	λῡ́οιτε	λῡ́οιεν
	imperative		λῦε	λῡέτω	λῡ́ετον	λῡέτων		λῡ́ετε	λῡόντων
middle/ passive	indicative	λῡ́ομαι	λῡ́ῃ, λῡ́ει	λῡ́εται	λῡ́εσθον	λῡ́εσθον	λῡόμεθᾰ	λῡ́εσθε	λῡ́ονται
	subjunctive	λῡ́ωμαι	λῡ́ῃ	λῡ́ηται	λῡ́ησθον	λῡ́ησθον	λῡώμεθᾰ	λῡ́ησθε	λῡ́ωνται
	optative	λῡοίμην	λῡ́οιο	λῡ́οιτο	λῡ́οισθον	λῡοίσθην	λῡοίμεθᾰ	λῡ́οισθε	λῡ́οιντο
	imperative		λῡ́ου	λῡέσθω	λῡ́εσθον	λῡέσθων		λῡ́εσθε	λῡέσθων
		active				middle/passive
infinitive		λῡ́ειν				λῡ́εσθαι
participle	m	λῡ́ων				λῡόμενος
	f	λῡ́ουσᾰ				λῡομένη
	n	λῦον				λῡόμενον
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Imperfect: ἔλῡον, ἐλῡόμην

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	ἔλῡον	ἔλῡες	ἔλῡε(ν)	ἐλῡ́ετον	ἐλῡέτην	ἐλῡ́ομεν	ἐλῡ́ετε	ἔλῡον
middle/ passive	indicative	ἐλῡόμην	ἐλῡ́ου	ἐλῡ́ετο	ἐλῡ́εσθον	ἐλῡέσθην	ἐλῡόμεθᾰ	ἐλῡ́εσθε	ἐλῡ́οντο
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Imperfect: λῦον, λῡόμην (Epic)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	λῦον	λῦες	λῦε(ν)	λῡ́ετον	λῡέτην	λῡ́ομεν	λῡ́ετε	λῦον
middle/ passive	indicative	λῡόμην	λῡ́ου	λῡ́ετο	λῡ́εσθον	λῡέσθην	λῡόμε(σ)θᾰ	λῡ́εσθε	λῡ́οντο
Notes:	Dialects other than Attic are not well attested. Some forms are based on conjecture. Use with caution. For more details, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Future: λῡ́σω, λῡ́σομαι, λῠθήσομαι

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	λῡ́σω	λῡ́σεις	λῡ́σει	λῡ́σετον	λῡ́σετον	λῡ́σομεν	λῡ́σετε	λῡ́σουσῐ(ν)
	optative	λῡ́σοιμῐ	λῡ́σοις	λῡ́σοι	λῡ́σοιτον	λῡσοίτην	λῡ́σοιμεν	λῡ́σοιτε	λῡ́σοιεν
middle	indicative	λῡ́σομαι	λῡ́σῃ, λῡ́σει	λῡ́σεται	λῡ́σεσθον	λῡ́σεσθον	λῡσόμεθᾰ	λῡ́σεσθε	λῡ́σονται
	optative	λῡσοίμην	λῡ́σοιο	λῡ́σοιτο	λῡ́σοισθον	λῡσοίσθην	λῡσοίμεθᾰ	λῡ́σοισθε	λῡ́σοιντο
passive	indicative	λῠθήσομαι	λῠθήσῃ	λῠθήσεται	λῠθήσεσθον	λῠθήσεσθον	λῠθησόμεθᾰ	λῠθήσεσθε	λῠθήσονται
	optative	λῠθησοίμην	λῠθήσοιο	λῠθήσοιτο	λῠθήσοισθον	λῠθησοίσθην	λῠθησοίμεθᾰ	λῠθήσοισθε	λῠθήσοιντο
		active			middle		passive
infinitive		λῡ́σειν			λῡ́σεσθαι		λῠθήσεσθαι
participle	m	λῡ́σων			λῡσόμενος		λῠθησόμενος
	f	λῡ́σουσᾰ			λῡσομένη		λῠθησομένη
	n	λῦσον			λῡσόμενον		λῠθησόμενον
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Aorist: ἔλῡσᾰ, ἐλῡσᾰ́μην, ἐλῠ́θην

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	ἔλῡσᾰ	ἔλῡσᾰς	ἔλῡσε(ν)	ἐλῡ́σᾰτον	ἐλῡσᾰ́την	ἐλῡ́σᾰμεν	ἐλῡ́σᾰτε	ἔλῡσᾰν
	subjunctive	λῡ́σω	λῡ́σῃς	λῡ́σῃ	λῡ́σητον	λῡ́σητον	λῡ́σωμεν	λῡ́σητε	λῡ́σωσῐ(ν)
	optative	λῡ́σαιμῐ	λῡ́σειᾰς, λῡ́σαις	λῡ́σειε(ν), λῡ́σαι	λῡ́σαιτον	λῡσαίτην	λῡ́σαιμεν	λῡ́σαιτε	λῡ́σειᾰν, λῡ́σαιεν
	imperative		λῦσον	λῡσᾰ́τω	λῡ́σᾰτον	λῡσᾰ́των		λῡ́σᾰτε	λῡσᾰ́ντων
middle	indicative	ἐλῡσᾰ́μην	ἐλῡ́σω	ἐλῡ́σᾰτο	ἐλῡ́σᾰσθον	ἐλῡσᾰ́σθην	ἐλῡσᾰ́μεθᾰ	ἐλῡ́σᾰσθε	ἐλῡ́σᾰντο
	subjunctive	λῡ́σωμαι	λῡ́σῃ	λῡ́σηται	λῡ́σησθον	λῡ́σησθον	λῡσώμεθᾰ	λῡ́σησθε	λῡ́σωνται
	optative	λῡσαίμην	λῡ́σαιο	λῡ́σαιτο	λῡ́σαισθον	λῡσαίσθην	λῡσαίμεθᾰ	λῡ́σαισθε	λῡ́σαιντο
	imperative		λῦσαι	λῡσᾰ́σθω	λῡ́σᾰσθον	λῡσᾰ́σθων		λῡ́σᾰσθε	λῡσᾰ́σθων
passive	indicative	ἐλῠ́θην	ἐλῠ́θης	ἐλῠ́θη	ἐλῠ́θητον	ἐλῠθήτην	ἐλῠ́θημεν	ἐλῠ́θητε	ἐλῠ́θησᾰν
	subjunctive	λῠθῶ	λῠθῇς	λῠθῇ	λῠθῆτον	λῠθῆτον	λῠθῶμεν	λῠθῆτε	λῠθῶσῐ(ν)
	optative	λῠθείην	λῠθείης	λῠθείη	λῠθεῖτον, λῠθείητον	λῠθείτην, λῠθειήτην	λῠθεῖμεν, λῠθείημεν	λῠθεῖτε, λῠθείητε	λῠθεῖεν, λῠθείησᾰν
	imperative		λῠ́θητῐ	λῠθήτω	λῠ́θητον	λῠθήτων		λῠ́θητε	λῠθέντων
		active			middle		passive
infinitive		λῦσαι			λῡ́σᾰσθαι		λῠθῆναι
participle	m	λῡ́σᾱς			λῡσᾰ́μενος		λῠθείς
	f	λῡ́σᾱσᾰ			λῡσᾰμένη		λῠθεῖσᾰ
	n	λῦσᾰν			λῡσᾰ́μενον		λῠθέν
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Aorist: λῦσᾰ, λῡσᾰ́μην, λῠ́μην (Epic)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	λῦσᾰ	λῦσᾰς	λῦσε(ν)	λῡ́σᾰτον	λῡσᾰ́την	λῡ́σᾰμεν	λῡ́σᾰτε	λῦσᾰν
	subjunctive	λῡ́σω, λῡ́σωμῐ	λῡ́σῃς, λῡ́σῃσθᾰ	λῡ́σῃ, λῡ́σῃσῐ	λῡ́σητον	λῡ́σητον	λῡ́σωμεν	λῡ́σητε	λῡ́σωσῐ(ν)
	optative	λῡ́σαιμῐ	λῡ́σαις, λῡ́σαισθᾰ, λῡ́σειᾰς	λῡ́σειε(ν), λῡ́σαι	λῡσεῖτον	λῡσείτην	λῡσεῖμεν	λῡσεῖτε	λῡσεῖεν
	imperative		λῦσον	λῡσᾰ́τω	λῡ́σᾰτον	λῡσᾰ́των		λῡ́σᾰτε	λῡσᾰ́ντων
middle	indicative	λῡσᾰ́μην	λῡ́σᾰο	λῡ́σᾰτο	λῡ́σᾰσθον	λῡσᾰ́σθην	λῡσᾰ́με(σ)θᾰ	λῡ́σᾰσθε	λῡ́σᾰντο
	subjunctive	λῡ́σωμαι	λῡ́σηαι	λῡ́σηται	λῡ́σησθον	λῡ́σησθον	λῡσώμε(σ)θᾰ	λῡ́σησθε	λῡ́σωνται
	optative	λῡσαίμην	λῡ́σαιο	λῡ́σαιτο	λῡ́σαισθον	λῡσαίσθην	λῡσαίμε(σ)θᾰ	λῡ́σαισθε	λῡσαίᾰτο
	imperative		λῦσαι	λῡσᾰ́σθω	λῡ́σᾰσθον	λῡσᾰ́σθων		λῡ́σᾰσθε	λῡσᾰ́σθων
passive	indicative	λῠ́μην, λῠ́θην	λῠ́θης	λῠ́θη, λῠ́το, λῦτο	λῠ́θητον	λῠθήτην	λῠ́θημεν	λῠ́θητε	λῠ́θησᾰν, λῠ́θεν, λύντο
	subjunctive	λῠθῶ	λῠθῇς	λῠθῇ	λῠθῆτον	λῠθῆτον	λῠθῶμεν	λῠθῆτε	λῠθῶσῐ(ν)
	optative	λῠθείην	λῠθείης	λῠθείη	λῠθεῖτον, λῠθείητον	λῠθείτην, λῠθειήτην	λῠθεῖμεν, λῠθείημεν	λῠθεῖτε, λῠθείητε	λῠ́θειεν, λῠθείησᾰν
	imperative		λῠ́θητῐ	λῠθήτω	λῠ́θητον	λῠθήτων		λῠ́θητε	λῠθέντων
		active			middle		passive
infinitive		λῦσαι/λῡσᾰ́μεν/λῡσᾰμέναι			λῡ́σᾰσθαι		λῠθῆναι/λῠθήμεναι
participle	m	λῡ́σᾱς			λῡσᾰ́μενος		λῠθείς
	f	λῡ́σᾱσᾰ			λῡσᾰμένη		λῠθεῖσᾰ
	n	λῦσᾰν			λῡσᾰ́μενον		λῠθέν
Notes:	Dialects other than Attic are not well attested. Some forms are based on conjecture. Use with caution. For more details, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Perfect: λέλῠκᾰ, λέλῠμαι

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	λέλῠκᾰ	λέλῠκᾰς	λέλῠκε(ν)	λελῠ́κᾰτον	λελῠ́κᾰτον	λελῠ́κᾰμεν	λελῠ́κᾰτε	λελῠ́κᾱσῐ(ν)
	subjunctive	λελῠ́κω	λελῠ́κῃς	λελῠ́κῃ	λελῠ́κητον	λελῠ́κητον	λελῠ́κωμεν	λελῠ́κητε	λελῠ́κωσῐ(ν)
	optative	λελῠ́κοιμῐ, λελῠκοίην	λελῠ́κοις, λελῠκοίης	λελῠ́κοι, λελῠκοίη	λελῠ́κοιτον	λελῠκοίτην	λελῠ́κοιμεν	λελῠ́κοιτε	λελῠ́κοιεν
	imperative		λέλῠκε	λελῠκέτω	λελῠ́κετον	λελῠκέτων		λελῠ́κετε	λελῠκόντων
middle/ passive	indicative	λέλῠμαι	λέλῠσαι	λέλῠται	λέλῠσθον	λέλῠσθον	λελῠ́μεθᾰ	λέλῠσθε	λέλῠνται
	subjunctive	λελῠμένος ὦ	λελῠμένος ᾖς	λελῠμένος ᾖ	λελῠμένω ἦτον	λελῠμένω ἦτον	λελῠμένοι ὦμεν	λελῠμένοι ἦτε	λελῠμένοι ὦσῐ(ν)
	optative	λελῠμένος εἴην	λελῠμένος εἴης	λελῠμένος εἴη	λελῠμένω εἴητον/εἶτον	λελῠμένω εἰήτην/εἴτην	λελῠμένοι εἴημεν/εἶμεν	λελῠμένοι εἴητε/εἶτε	λελῠμένοι εἴησᾰν/εἶεν
	imperative		λέλῠσο	λελῠ́σθω	λέλῠσθον	λελῠ́σθων		λέλῠσθε	λελῠ́σθων
		active				middle/passive
infinitive		λελῠκέναι				λελῠ́σθαι
participle	m	λελῠκώς				λελῠμένος
	f	λελῠκυῖᾰ				λελῠμένη
	n	λελῠκός				λελῠμένον
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation. A passive optative third-person singular form λελῦτο (lelûto) is also found in Homer (Odyssey 18:238)

   Pluperfect: ἐλελῠ́κειν, ἐλελῠ́μην

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	ἐλελῠ́κειν, ἐλελῠ́κη	ἐλελῠ́κεις, ἐλελῠ́κης	ἐλελῠ́κει(ν)	ἐλελῠ́κετον	ἐλελῠκέτην	ἐλελῠ́κεμεν	ἐλελῠ́κετε	ἐλελῠ́κεσᾰν
middle/ passive	indicative	ἐλελῠ́μην	ἐλέλῠσο	ἐλέλῠτο	ἐλέλῠσθον	ἐλελῠ́σθην	ἐλελῠ́μεθᾰ	ἐλέλῠσθε	ἐλέλῠντο
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Future perfect: λελῡ́σομαι

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
middle/ passive	indicative	λελῡ́σομαι	λελῡ́σῃ, λελῡ́σει	λελῡ́σεται	λελῡ́σεσθον	λελῡ́σεσθον	λελῡσόμεθᾰ	λελῡ́σεσθε	λελῡ́σονται
	optative	λελῡσοίμην	λελῡ́σοιο	λελῡ́σοιτο	λελῡ́σοισθον	λελῡσοίσθην	λελῡσοίμεθᾰ	λελῡ́σοισθε	λελῡ́σοιντο
						middle/passive
infinitive						λελῡ́σεσθαι
participle	m					λελῡσόμενος
	f					λελῡσομένη
	n					λελῡσόμενον
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Derived terms

expressions:

• τέλη λύειν (télē lúein, “pay one's dues”)

Derivatives from λῡ́ω (and see their compounds):

Derived terms

Participles

• active: λῡ́ων, λῡ́σων, λῡ́σᾱς, λελῠκώς
• mediopassive: λῡόμενος, λῡσόμενος/λῠθησόμενος, λῡσᾰ́μενος/λῠθείς, λελῠμένος

Verbal adjectives

• λῠτός (lŭtós, “that may be loosed, solved”)
• λῠτέος (lŭtéos, “that must be loosed, solved”)

From stems λῠσ- λῡσ-

• λῠ́σῐμος (lŭ́sĭmos, “able to loose or relieve”)
• λῠ́σῐς f (lŭ́sĭs, “releasing, solution”)
• λῡσῐτελέω (lūsĭteléō, “to solve expenses, to profit”)
• λῡσῐτελής (lūsĭtelḗs, “solving expenses, profitable”)
• and see λῡσῐ- (lūsĭ-)

From stem λῠτ

• ἄλῠτος (álŭtos, “not to be loosed”)
• λῠ́ται m pl (lŭ́tai)
• Λῠταῖος (Lŭtaîos, “title of Poseidon”)
• λῠ́τειρα (lŭ́teira, “feminine of λυτήρ”)
• λῠτέον n (lŭtéon, “one must refute”)
• λῠτέος (lŭtéos, “one must solve”)
• λῠτήρ m (lŭtḗr, “one who looses, deliverer”)
• λῠτηριάς f (lŭtēriás, “λύτειρα”)
• λῠτήριος (lŭtḗrios, “loosing, delivering”)
• λῠτῐκός (lŭtĭkós, “able to loose, laxative”)
• λῠτός (lŭtós, “that may be untied”)
• λῠ́τρον n (lŭ́tron, “price of release”)
• λῠτρόω (lŭtróō, “release/hold to ransom”) and its derivatives
• λῠ́τωρ (lŭ́tōr, “λυτήρ”)

Also

• λῦμα n (lûma, “2nd meaning: pledge, security”)

Compounds with λῡ́ω (and see their Derived terms):

• ᾰ̓νᾰλῡ́ω (ănălū́ō, “to unsettle, unloose”), ἀλλῡ́ω
• ἀντᾰνᾰλῡ́ω (antănălū́ō, “to counteract”)
• ᾰ̓ποδῐᾰλῡ́ω (ăpodĭălū́ō, “to dissipate”)
• ᾰ̓πολῡ́ω (ăpolū́ō, “to loose from”)
• δῐᾰλῡ́ω (dĭălū́ō, “to loose”)
• ἐκλῡ́ω (eklū́ō, “to set free”)
• ἐνᾰπολῡ́ω (enăpolū́ō, “to acquit”)
• ἐνδῐᾰλῡ́ω (endĭălū́ō, “to loosen, disperse”)
• ἐξᾰνᾰλῡ́ω (exănălū́ō, “to set free”)
• ἐπᾰνᾰλῡ́ω (epănălū́ō, “to return”)
• ἐπᾰπολῡ́ω (epăpolū́ō, “to discharge against”)
• ἐπῐδῐᾰλῡ́ω (epĭdĭălū́ō, “to come as a relief to”)
• ἐπικᾰτᾰλῡ́ω (epikătălū́ō, “to reduce yet further”)
• ἐπῐλῡ́ω (epĭlū́ō, “to loose, untie”)
• κᾰτᾰλῡ́ω (kătălū́ō, “to destroy”)
• πᾰρᾰλῡ́ω (părălū́ō, “to detach, weaken”)
• περῐλῡ́ω (perĭlū́ō, “to loosen about”)
• προᾰπολῡ́ω (proăpolū́ō, “to dismiss before”)
• προδῐᾰλῡ́ω (prodĭălū́ō, “to dissolve”)
• προεπῐλῡ́ω (proepĭlū́ō, “to solve previously”)
• προκᾰτᾰλῡ́ω (prokătălū́ō, “to break up, annul beforehand”)
• προλῡ́ω (prolū́ō, “to undo, refute before”)
• προσᾰνᾰλῡ́ω (prosănălū́ō, “to break up as well”)
• προσᾰπολῡ́ω (prosăpolū́ō, “to free besides”)
• προσδῐᾰλῡ́ω (prosdĭălū́ō, “to relax further”)
• προσκᾰτᾰλῡ́ω (proskătălū́ō, “to undo”)
• προϋπεκλῡ́ω (proüpeklū́ō, “to loosen”)
• συγκᾰτᾰλῡ́ω (sunkătălū́ō, “to help in undoing”)
• συλλῡ́ω (sullū́ō, “to help in loosing, solve difficulties”)
• συμπεριλῡ́ω (sumperilū́ō, “to release”)
• σῠνᾰνᾰλῡ́ω (sŭnănălū́ō, “to remit”)
• σῠνᾰπολῡ́ω (sŭnăpolū́ō, “to release together”)
• σῠνδῐᾰλῡ́ω (sŭndĭălū́ō, “to help in putting an end to”)
• σῠνεκλῡ́ω (sŭneklū́ō, “to help to relax, enfeeble”)
• ῠ̔πεκλῡ́ω (hŭpeklū́ō, “to loosen”)
• ῠ̔πεκπρολῡ́ω (hŭpekprolū́ō, “to loose from under”)
• ῠ̔πολῡ́ω (hŭpolū́ō, “to loosen beneath”)

Descendants

• → English: lyo-, ly-
• Greek: λύνω (lýno)
• → Greek: λύω (lýo)

See also

• ῥήγνυμι (rhḗgnumi)

Further reading

• “λύω”, in Liddell & Scott (1940) A Greek–English Lexicon, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• “λύω”, in Liddell & Scott (1889) An Intermediate Greek–English Lexicon, New York: Harper & Brothers
• “λύω”, in Autenrieth, Georg (1891) A Homeric Dictionary for Schools and Colleges, New York: Harper and Brothers
• λύω in Bailly, Anatole (1935) Le Grand Bailly: Dictionnaire grec-français, Paris: Hachette
• λύω in Cunliffe, Richard J. (1924) A Lexicon of the Homeric Dialect: Expanded Edition, Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, published 1963
• “λύω”, in Slater, William J. (1969) Lexicon to Pindar, Berlin: Walter de Gruyter
• G3089 in Strong, James (1979) Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance to the Bible
• James Diggle et al., editors (2021), Cambridge Greek Lexicon, Cambridge University Press, →ISBN, page 30

Greek

Alternative forms

• λύνω (lýno) (common, standard)

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek λῡ́ω (lū́ō). Also see λύνω (lýno).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈli.o/
• Hyphenation: λύ‧ω

Verb

λύω • (lýo) (past έλυσα, passive λύομαι) (formal)

1. to terminate, adjourn, end (especially in passive form)

   λύεται η συνεδρίαση ― lýetai i synedríasi ― (especially of court) the session is adjourned

   λύεται η σύμβαση ― lýetai i sýmvasi ― the contract is terminated

2. to dismantle, disassemble → see participle λυόμενος

Conjugation

λύω   λύομαι   (a formal variation of λύνω)

	Active voice ➤		Passive voice ➤
Indicative mood ➤	Imperfective aspect ➤	Perfective aspect ➤	Imperfective aspect	Perfective aspect
Non-past tenses ➤	Present ➤	Dependent ➤	Present	Dependent
1 sg	λύω  (λύνω →)	λύσω	λύομαι	λυθώ
2 sg	λύεις	λύσεις	λύεσαι	λυθείς
3 sg	λύει	λύσει	λύεται	λυθεί
1 pl	λύουμε, λύομε(ν)	λύσουμε, λύσομε	λυόμαστε, {λυόμεθα}	λυθούμε
2 pl	λύετε	λύσετε	λύεστε, {λύεσθε}	λυθείτε
3 pl	λύουν	λύσουν(ε)	λύονται	λυθούν(ε)
Past tenses ➤	Imperfect ➤	Simple past ➤	Imperfect	Simple past
1 sg	έλυα	έλυσα	λυόμουν	λύθηκα, [{ελύθην}]1
2 sg	έλυες	έλυσες	λυόσουν	λύθηκες, [{ελύθης}]
3 sg	έλυε	έλυσε	λυόταν	λύθηκε, {ελύθη}
1 pl	λύαμε	λύσαμε	λυόμασταν, (‑όμαστε)	λυθήκαμε, [{ελύθημεν}]
2 pl	λύατε	λύσατε	λυόσασταν, (‑όσαστε)	λυθήκατε, [{ελύθητε}]
3 pl	έλυαν	έλυσαν, λύσαν(ε)	λύονταν	λύθηκαν, {ελύθησαν}
Future tenses ➤	Continuous ➤	Simple ➤	Continuous	Simple
1 sg	θα λύω ➤	θα λύσω ➤	θα λύομαι ➤	θα λυθώ ➤
2,3 sg, 1,2,3 pl	θα λύεις, …	θα λύσεις, …	θα λύεσαι, …	θα λυθείς, …
	Perfect aspect ➤		Perfect aspect
Present perfect ➤	έχω, έχεις, … λύσει     and see → λύνω ➤		έχω, έχεις, … λυθεί     and see → λύνω ➤
Past perfect ➤	είχα, είχες, … λύσει		είχα, είχες, … λυθεί
Future perfect ➤	θα έχω, θα έχεις, … λύσει		θα έχω, θα έχεις, … λυθεί
Subjunctive mood ➤	Formed using present, dependent (for simple past) or present perfect from above with a particle (να, ας).
Imperative mood ➤	Imperfective aspect	Perfective aspect	Imperfective aspect	Perfective aspect
2 sg	λύε	λύσε	[{λύου}]	λύσου
2 pl	λύετε	λύστε, {λύσατε}	λύεστε, {λύεσθε}	λυθείτε
Other forms	Active voice		Passive voice
Present participle➤	—		λυόμενος, ‑η, ‑ο ➤
Perfect participle➤	έχοντας λύσει ➤		{λελυμένος, ‑η, ‑o} λυμένος, ‑η, ‑o (→ λύνω) ➤
Nonfinite form➤	λύσει		λυθεί
Notes     Appendix:Greek verbs	1. Formal passive forms, as in the ancient aorist ἐλύθην from the conjugation of λύω. In Modern Greek, used in the 3rd persons (all persons included here, for reference). Also found in compounds.  • Many forms, as in the ancient inflection of λύω. Others, as in modern λύνω  • Also, past participle {λυθείς}, {λυθείσα}, {λυθέν}  • (…) optional or informal.   […] rare.   {…} learned, archaic.  • Multiple forms are shown in order of reducing frequency.  • Periphrastic imperative forms may be produced using the subjunctive.

Derived terms

• δεσμείν και λύειν (desmeín kai lýein) (polytonic script: δεσμεῖν καί λύειν)

Related terms

Related to λύω

• άλυτος (álytos)
• αλύτρωτος (alýtrotos)
• λελυμένος (lelyménos, “solved”, participle) (formal, archaic)
• λυσάρι n (lysári)

1. λύσατε (lýsate) (imperative)

• λύση f (lýsi, “solution”)
• λύσιμο n (lýsimo)
• λυσιτελής (lysitelís)
• λυσιτελώ (lysiteló)
• λυόμενο n (lyómeno, “prefabricated house”)
• λυόμενος (lyómenos, “dismantled, unbound”, participle)
• λύτης (lýtis, “one who solves”)
• λύτρα n pl (lýtra, “ransom”)
• λύτρωση f (lýtrosi)
• λυτρώνω (lytróno)

Compounds of the ancient λύω (and see their Derivatives):

Compounds of λύω

• αναλύω (analýo, “analyse”)
• απολύω (apolýo, “discharge, sack”)
• διαλύω (dialýo, “dissolve”)
• εκλύω (eklýo)
• εξαπολύω (exapolýo)
• επιλύω (epilýo)
• καταλύω (katalýo, “abolish; stay, find lodgement”)
• παραλύω (paralýo, “paralyse”)