ἐλπίζω

See also: ελπίζω

Ancient Greek

Etymology

From ἐλπίς (elpís, “hope”) +‎ *-ϳω (*-jō). Synchronically also analyzable as ἐλπίς (elpís) +‎ -ίζω (-ízō).

Pronunciation

(5^th BCE Attic) IPA^(key): /el.píz.dɔː/
(1^st CE Egyptian) IPA^(key): /elˈpi.zo/
(4^th CE Koine) IPA^(key): /elˈpi.zo/
(10^th CE Byzantine) IPA^(key): /elˈpi.zo/
(15^th CE Constantinopolitan) IPA^(key): /elˈpi.zo/

Verb

ἐλπίζω • (elpízō)

to hope for, to look for, expect
- 467 BCE, Aeschylus, Seven Against Thebes 589
- 458 BCE, Aeschylus, The Libation Bearers 539
- 430 BCE – 354 BCE, Xenophon, Memorabilia 4.3.17
- 343 BCE, Demosthenes, On the False Embassy 102
- 460 BCE – 420 BCE, Herodotus, Histories 3.143
- 480 BCE – 411 BCE, Antiphon of Rhamnus, First Tetralogy 3.6
- 460 BCE – 395 BCE, Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War 4.71
- 445 BCE – 380 BCE, Lysias, For Mantitheus 2
- 445 BCE – 380 BCE, Lysias, Funeral Oration 21
- 409 BCE, Sophocles, Philoctetes 629
- 430 BCE – 354 BCE, Xenophon, Agesilaus 7.6
- 460 BCE – 420 BCE, Herodotus, Histories 3.151
- 460 BCE – 395 BCE, Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War 2.53
- 497 BCE – 405 BCE, Sophocles, Electra 1281
- 430 BCE, Euripides, Herakles' Children 1051
- 497 BCE – 405 BCE, Sophocles, Electra 963
- 406 BCE, Sophocles, Oedipus at Colonus 1105
1. (of evils) to look for, fear
  - 497 BCE – 405 BCE, Sophocles, Women of Trachis 111
  - 497 BCE – 405 BCE, Sophocles, Ajax 799
  - 445 BCE – 380 BCE, Lysias, Against Eratosthenes 70
  - 414 BCE, Aristophanes, The Birds 956
  - 460 BCE – 420 BCE, Herodotus, Histories 8.12
  - 413 BCE, Euripides, Ion 348
  - 460 BCE – 420 BCE, Herodotus, Histories 1.77
  - 460 BCE – 420 BCE, Herodotus, Histories 8.53
2. (with present infinitive) to think, deem, suppose, believe
  - 460 BCE – 420 BCE, Herodotus, Histories 1.30
  - 460 BCE – 420 BCE, Herodotus, Histories 1.22
  - 460 BCE – 420 BCE, Herodotus, Histories 1.27
  - 467 BCE, Aeschylus, Seven Against Thebes 76
  - 458 BCE, Aeschylus, The Libation Bearers 187
  - 425 BCE, Euripides, Andromache 720
  - 380 BCE, Plato, The Republic 573C
  - 445 BCE – 380 BCE, Lysias, Against Philon 27
  - 384 BCE – 322 BCE, Demosthenes, First Philippic 7
3. (with dative) to hope in
  - 460 BCE – 395 BCE, Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War 3.97
  - 70 CE – 110 CE, The Gospel of Matthew 12:21
  - 300 BCE – 200 BCE, Septuagint, 2 Kings 18.5
  - 50 CE – 100 CE, The Gospel of John 5:45
  - New Testament, Epistle to the Romans 15:12
  - New Testament, First Epistle of Peter 3:5

Inflection

Present: ἐλπῐ́ζω, ἐλπῐ́ζομαι

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	ἐλπῐ́ζω	ἐλπῐ́ζεις	ἐλπῐ́ζει	ἐλπῐ́ζετον	ἐλπῐ́ζετον	ἐλπῐ́ζομεν	ἐλπῐ́ζετε	ἐλπῐ́ζουσῐ(ν)
	subjunctive	ἐλπῐ́ζω	ἐλπῐ́ζῃς	ἐλπῐ́ζῃ	ἐλπῐ́ζητον	ἐλπῐ́ζητον	ἐλπῐ́ζωμεν	ἐλπῐ́ζητε	ἐλπῐ́ζωσῐ(ν)
	optative	ἐλπῐ́ζοιμῐ	ἐλπῐ́ζοις	ἐλπῐ́ζοι	ἐλπῐ́ζοιτον	ἐλπῐζοίτην	ἐλπῐ́ζοιμεν	ἐλπῐ́ζοιτε	ἐλπῐ́ζοιεν
	imperative		ἔλπῐζε	ἐλπῐζέτω	ἐλπῐ́ζετον	ἐλπῐζέτων		ἐλπῐ́ζετε	ἐλπῐζόντων
middle/ passive	indicative	ἐλπῐ́ζομαι	ἐλπῐ́ζῃ, ἐλπῐ́ζει	ἐλπῐ́ζεται	ἐλπῐ́ζεσθον	ἐλπῐ́ζεσθον	ἐλπῐζόμεθᾰ	ἐλπῐ́ζεσθε	ἐλπῐ́ζονται
	subjunctive	ἐλπῐ́ζωμαι	ἐλπῐ́ζῃ	ἐλπῐ́ζηται	ἐλπῐ́ζησθον	ἐλπῐ́ζησθον	ἐλπῐζώμεθᾰ	ἐλπῐ́ζησθε	ἐλπῐ́ζωνται
	optative	ἐλπῐζοίμην	ἐλπῐ́ζοιο	ἐλπῐ́ζοιτο	ἐλπῐ́ζοισθον	ἐλπῐζοίσθην	ἐλπῐζοίμεθᾰ	ἐλπῐ́ζοισθε	ἐλπῐ́ζοιντο
	imperative		ἐλπῐ́ζου	ἐλπῐζέσθω	ἐλπῐ́ζεσθον	ἐλπῐζέσθων		ἐλπῐ́ζεσθε	ἐλπῐζέσθων
		active				middle/passive
infinitive		ἐλπῐ́ζειν				ἐλπῐ́ζεσθαι
participle	m	ἐλπῐ́ζων				ἐλπῐζόμενος
	f	ἐλπῐ́ζουσᾰ				ἐλπῐζομένη
	n	ἐλπῐ́ζον				ἐλπῐζόμενον
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Imperfect: ἤλπῐζον, ἠλπῐζόμην

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	ἤλπῐζον	ἤλπῐζες	ἤλπῐζε(ν)	ἠλπῐ́ζετον	ἠλπῐζέτην	ἠλπῐ́ζομεν	ἠλπῐ́ζετε	ἤλπῐζον
middle/ passive	indicative	ἠλπῐζόμην	ἠλπῐ́ζου	ἠλπῐ́ζετο	ἠλπῐ́ζεσθον	ἠλπῐζέσθην	ἠλπῐζόμεθᾰ	ἠλπῐ́ζεσθε	ἠλπῐ́ζοντο
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Future: ἐλπῐέω, ἐλπῐσθήσομαι (Uncontracted)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	ἐλπῐέω	ἐλπῐέεις	ἐλπῐέει	ἐλπῐέετον	ἐλπῐέετον	ἐλπῐέομεν	ἐλπῐέετε	ἐλπῐέουσῐ(ν)
active	optative	ἐλπῐέοιμῐ	ἐλπῐέοις	ἐλπῐέοι	ἐλπῐέοιτον	ἐλπῐεοίτην	ἐλπῐέοιμεν	ἐλπῐέοιτε	ἐλπῐέοιεν
passive	indicative	ἐλπῐσθήσομαι	ἐλπῐσθήσῃ	ἐλπῐσθήσεται	ἐλπῐσθήσεσθον	ἐλπῐσθήσεσθον	ἐλπῐσθησόμεθᾰ	ἐλπῐσθήσεσθε	ἐλπῐσθήσονται
passive	optative	ἐλπῐσθησοίμην	ἐλπῐσθήσοιο	ἐλπῐσθήσοιτο	ἐλπῐσθήσοισθον	ἐλπῐσθησοίσθην	ἐλπῐσθησοίμεθᾰ	ἐλπῐσθήσοισθε	ἐλπῐσθήσοιντο
		active					passive
infinitive		ἐλπῐέειν					ἐλπῐσθήσεσθαι
participle	m	ἐλπῐέων					ἐλπῐσθησόμενος
	f	ἐλπῐέουσᾰ					ἐλπῐσθησομένη
	n	ἐλπῐέον					ἐλπῐσθησόμενον
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Future: ἐλπῐῶ, ἐλπῐσθήσομαι (Contracted)

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	ἐλπῐῶ	ἐλπῐεῖς	ἐλπῐεῖ	ἐλπῐεῖτον	ἐλπῐεῖτον	ἐλπῐοῦμεν	ἐλπῐεῖτε	ἐλπῐοῦσῐ(ν)
active	optative	ἐλπῐοίην, ἐλπῐοῖμῐ	ἐλπῐοίης, ἐλπῐοῖς	ἐλπῐοίη, ἐλπῐοῖ	ἐλπῐοῖτον, ἐλπῐοίητον	ἐλπῐοίτην, ἐλπῐοιήτην	ἐλπῐοῖμεν, ἐλπῐοίημεν	ἐλπῐοῖτε, ἐλπῐοίητε	ἐλπῐοῖεν, ἐλπῐοίησᾰν
passive	indicative	ἐλπῐσθήσομαι	ἐλπῐσθήσῃ	ἐλπῐσθήσεται	ἐλπῐσθήσεσθον	ἐλπῐσθήσεσθον	ἐλπῐσθησόμεθᾰ	ἐλπῐσθήσεσθε	ἐλπῐσθήσονται
passive	optative	ἐλπῐσθησοίμην	ἐλπῐσθήσοιο	ἐλπῐσθήσοιτο	ἐλπῐσθήσοισθον	ἐλπῐσθησοίσθην	ἐλπῐσθησοίμεθᾰ	ἐλπῐσθήσοισθε	ἐλπῐσθήσοιντο
		active					passive
infinitive		ἐλπῐεῖν					ἐλπῐσθήσεσθαι
participle	m	ἐλπῐῶν					ἐλπῐσθησόμενος
	f	ἐλπῐοῦσᾰ					ἐλπῐσθησομένη
	n	ἐλπῐοῦν					ἐλπῐσθησόμενον
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Aorist: ἤλπῐσᾰ, ἠλπῐ́σθην

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	ἤλπῐσᾰ	ἤλπῐσᾰς	ἤλπῐσε(ν)	ἠλπῐ́σᾰτον	ἠλπῐσᾰ́την	ἠλπῐ́σᾰμεν	ἠλπῐ́σᾰτε	ἤλπῐσᾰν
	subjunctive	ἐλπῐ́σω	ἐλπῐ́σῃς	ἐλπῐ́σῃ	ἐλπῐ́σητον	ἐλπῐ́σητον	ἐλπῐ́σωμεν	ἐλπῐ́σητε	ἐλπῐ́σωσῐ(ν)
	optative	ἐλπῐ́σαιμῐ	ἐλπῐ́σειᾰς, ἐλπῐ́σαις	ἐλπῐ́σειε(ν), ἐλπῐ́σαι	ἐλπῐ́σαιτον	ἐλπῐσαίτην	ἐλπῐ́σαιμεν	ἐλπῐ́σαιτε	ἐλπῐ́σειᾰν, ἐλπῐ́σαιεν
	imperative		ἔλπῐσον	ἐλπῐσᾰ́τω	ἐλπῐ́σᾰτον	ἐλπῐσᾰ́των		ἐλπῐ́σᾰτε	ἐλπῐσᾰ́ντων
passive	indicative	ἠλπῐ́σθην	ἠλπῐ́σθης	ἠλπῐ́σθη	ἠλπῐ́σθητον	ἠλπῐσθήτην	ἠλπῐ́σθημεν	ἠλπῐ́σθητε	ἠλπῐ́σθησᾰν
	subjunctive	ἐλπῐσθῶ	ἐλπῐσθῇς	ἐλπῐσθῇ	ἐλπῐσθῆτον	ἐλπῐσθῆτον	ἐλπῐσθῶμεν	ἐλπῐσθῆτε	ἐλπῐσθῶσῐ(ν)
	optative	ἐλπῐσθείην	ἐλπῐσθείης	ἐλπῐσθείη	ἐλπῐσθεῖτον, ἐλπῐσθείητον	ἐλπῐσθείτην, ἐλπῐσθειήτην	ἐλπῐσθεῖμεν, ἐλπῐσθείημεν	ἐλπῐσθεῖτε, ἐλπῐσθείητε	ἐλπῐσθεῖεν, ἐλπῐσθείησᾰν
	imperative		ἐλπῐ́σθητῐ	ἐλπῐσθήτω	ἐλπῐ́σθητον	ἐλπῐσθήτων		ἐλπῐ́σθητε	ἐλπῐσθέντων
		active					passive
infinitive		ἐλπῐ́σαι					ἐλπῐσθῆναι
participle	m	ἐλπῐ́σᾱς					ἐλπῐσθείς
	f	ἐλπῐ́σᾱσᾰ					ἐλπῐσθεῖσᾰ
	n	ἐλπῐ́σᾰν					ἐλπῐσθέν
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Perfect: ἤλπῐκᾰ, ἤλπῐσμαι

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
active	indicative	ἤλπῐκᾰ	ἤλπῐκᾰς	ἤλπῐκε(ν)	ἠλπῐ́κᾰτον	ἠλπῐ́κᾰτον	ἠλπῐ́κᾰμεν	ἠλπῐ́κᾰτε	ἠλπῐ́κᾱσῐ(ν)
	subjunctive	ἠλπῐ́κω	ἠλπῐ́κῃς	ἠλπῐ́κῃ	ἠλπῐ́κητον	ἠλπῐ́κητον	ἠλπῐ́κωμεν	ἠλπῐ́κητε	ἠλπῐ́κωσῐ(ν)
	optative	ἠλπῐ́κοιμῐ, ἠλπῐκοίην	ἠλπῐ́κοις, ἠλπῐκοίης	ἠλπῐ́κοι, ἠλπῐκοίη	ἠλπῐ́κοιτον	ἠλπῐκοίτην	ἠλπῐ́κοιμεν	ἠλπῐ́κοιτε	ἠλπῐ́κοιεν
	imperative		ἤλπῐκε	ἠλπῐκέτω	ἠλπῐ́κετον	ἠλπῐκέτων		ἠλπῐ́κετε	ἠλπῐκόντων
middle/ passive	indicative	ἤλπῐσμαι	ἤλπῐσαι	ἤλπῐσται	ἤλπῐσθον	ἤλπῐσθον	ἠλπῐ́σμεθᾰ	ἤλπῐσθε	ἠλπῐ́σᾰται
	subjunctive	ἠλπῐσμένος ὦ	ἠλπῐσμένος ᾖς	ἠλπῐσμένος ᾖ	ἠλπῐσμένω ἦτον	ἠλπῐσμένω ἦτον	ἠλπῐσμένοι ὦμεν	ἠλπῐσμένοι ἦτε	ἠλπῐσμένοι ὦσῐ(ν)
	optative	ἠλπῐσμένος εἴην	ἠλπῐσμένος εἴης	ἠλπῐσμένος εἴη	ἠλπῐσμένω εἴητον/εἶτον	ἠλπῐσμένω εἰήτην/εἴτην	ἠλπῐσμένοι εἴημεν/εἶμεν	ἠλπῐσμένοι εἴητε/εἶτε	ἠλπῐσμένοι εἴησᾰν/εἶεν
	imperative		ἤλπῐσο	ἠλπῐ́σθω	ἤλπῐσθον	ἠλπῐ́σθων		ἤλπῐσθε	ἠλπῐ́σθων
		active				middle/passive
infinitive		ἠλπῐκέναι				ἠλπῐ́σθαι
participle	m	ἠλπῐκώς				ἠλπῐσμένος
	f	ἠλπῐκυῖᾰ				ἠλπῐσμένη
	n	ἠλπῐκός				ἠλπῐσμένον
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Derived terms

ἀντελπίζω (antelpízō)

References

“ἐλπίζω”, in Liddell & Scott (1940) A Greek–English Lexicon, Oxford: Clarendon Press
“ἐλπίζω”, in Liddell & Scott (1889) An Intermediate Greek–English Lexicon, New York: Harper & Brothers
ἐλπίζω in Bailly, Anatole (1935) Le Grand Bailly: Dictionnaire grec-français, Paris: Hachette
ἐλπίζω in the Diccionario Griego–Español en línea (2006–2025)
G1679 in Strong, James (1979) Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance to the Bible