Difference between revisions of "Greek numerical prefixes for groups"
DavidWalker (Talk | contribs) (New page: As well as supplying the prefixes in many English words for units of measurement and for geometrical figures, the Greek and Latin words for the numbers play a part - again often by supplyi...) |
DavidWalker (Talk | contribs) |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
As well as supplying the prefixes in many English words for units of measurement and for geometrical figures, the Greek and Latin words for the numbers play a part - again often by supplying the prefix - in many other types of English word, in particular, in words for groups consisting of a certain number of objects or persons. (See [[Greek and Latin words for numbers]], [[Prefixes in units of measurement]], and [[Prefixes in words for geometrical figures]].) For example, a group of six musicians is a '''sextet''' - ''sex'' is the Latin word for 'six'; a child who is one of four children born to the same mother at the same time is a '''quadruplet''' (often abbreviated to '''quad''') - 'quadr-' comes from ''quattuor'', the Latin word for 'four'; and a line of verse consisting of five metrical feet is a '''pentameter''' - ''pente'' is the Greek word for 'five'. | As well as supplying the prefixes in many English words for units of measurement and for geometrical figures, the Greek and Latin words for the numbers play a part - again often by supplying the prefix - in many other types of English word, in particular, in words for groups consisting of a certain number of objects or persons. (See [[Greek and Latin words for numbers]], [[Prefixes in units of measurement]], and [[Prefixes in words for geometrical figures]].) For example, a group of six musicians is a '''sextet''' - ''sex'' is the Latin word for 'six'; a child who is one of four children born to the same mother at the same time is a '''quadruplet''' (often abbreviated to '''quad''') - 'quadr-' comes from ''quattuor'', the Latin word for 'four'; and a line of verse consisting of five metrical feet is a '''pentameter''' - ''pente'' is the Greek word for 'five'. | ||
| + | |||
Here is a small selection of such words which make use of the Greek words for the numbers.: | Here is a small selection of such words which make use of the Greek words for the numbers.: | ||
| − | '''Rule by one, two, three, etc., individuals''' | + | |
| + | *'''Rule by one, two, three, etc., individuals''' | ||
Everyone knows the word '''monarchy''', which means, literally, rule by a single individual: ''arche'' is the Greek for 'rule or sovereignty', and ''monos'' is the Greek word for 'alone or single'. Words for rule by a larger number of individuals are formed in the same way, using as prefixes the Greek words for the numbers. So rule by two individuals is a '''diarchy''' (or '''dyarchy'''), and rule by three, four, five, or six individuals is, respectively, a '''triarchy''', '''tetrarchy''', '''pentarchy''', or '''hexarchy'''. | Everyone knows the word '''monarchy''', which means, literally, rule by a single individual: ''arche'' is the Greek for 'rule or sovereignty', and ''monos'' is the Greek word for 'alone or single'. Words for rule by a larger number of individuals are formed in the same way, using as prefixes the Greek words for the numbers. So rule by two individuals is a '''diarchy''' (or '''dyarchy'''), and rule by three, four, five, or six individuals is, respectively, a '''triarchy''', '''tetrarchy''', '''pentarchy''', or '''hexarchy'''. | ||
| − | '''Lines of verse''' | + | |
| + | *'''Lines of verse''' | ||
A line of verse with two metrical feet is a '''dimeter'''. A line of verse with three, four, five, or six metrical feet is, respectively, a '''trimeter''', '''tetrameter''', '''pentameter''', or '''hexameter'''. The [[stem]] '-meter' comes from the Greek ''metron'', which means 'measure'. | A line of verse with two metrical feet is a '''dimeter'''. A line of verse with three, four, five, or six metrical feet is, respectively, a '''trimeter''', '''tetrameter''', '''pentameter''', or '''hexameter'''. The [[stem]] '-meter' comes from the Greek ''metron'', which means 'measure'. | ||
| − | '''Poems of two, three, etc., lines''' | + | |
| + | *'''Poems of two, three, etc., lines''' | ||
A poem, or verse of a poem, composed of two lines is a '''distich'''. (A unit of two lines in a poem is also, and more commonly, referred to as a '''couplet'''.) Analogously, a poem, or verse, of three, four, five, or six lines is, respectively, a '''tristich''', '''tetrastich''', '''pentastich''', or '''hexastich'''. The [[stem]] '-stich' comes from the Greek ''stichos'', which means 'a row or file (e.g., of soldiers) or a line of verse'. | A poem, or verse of a poem, composed of two lines is a '''distich'''. (A unit of two lines in a poem is also, and more commonly, referred to as a '''couplet'''.) Analogously, a poem, or verse, of three, four, five, or six lines is, respectively, a '''tristich''', '''tetrastich''', '''pentastich''', or '''hexastich'''. The [[stem]] '-stich' comes from the Greek ''stichos'', which means 'a row or file (e.g., of soldiers) or a line of verse'. | ||
| − | '''Athletic contests''' | + | |
| + | *'''Athletic contests''' | ||
The '''pentathlon''' is an athletic contest in which the athletes must compete in five different events. But there is also a '''triathlon''' - a contest in which athletes must compete in three different events - and a '''heptathlon''' - a contest in which they must compete in seven different events. The [[stem]] '-athlon' comes from the Greek ''athlos'', which means 'contest'. | The '''pentathlon''' is an athletic contest in which the athletes must compete in five different events. But there is also a '''triathlon''' - a contest in which athletes must compete in three different events - and a '''heptathlon''' - a contest in which they must compete in seven different events. The [[stem]] '-athlon' comes from the Greek ''athlos'', which means 'contest'. | ||
| + | |||
Revision as of 20:09, 27 December 2007
As well as supplying the prefixes in many English words for units of measurement and for geometrical figures, the Greek and Latin words for the numbers play a part - again often by supplying the prefix - in many other types of English word, in particular, in words for groups consisting of a certain number of objects or persons. (See Greek and Latin words for numbers, Prefixes in units of measurement, and Prefixes in words for geometrical figures.) For example, a group of six musicians is a sextet - sex is the Latin word for 'six'; a child who is one of four children born to the same mother at the same time is a quadruplet (often abbreviated to quad) - 'quadr-' comes from quattuor, the Latin word for 'four'; and a line of verse consisting of five metrical feet is a pentameter - pente is the Greek word for 'five'.
Here is a small selection of such words which make use of the Greek words for the numbers.:
- Rule by one, two, three, etc., individuals
Everyone knows the word monarchy, which means, literally, rule by a single individual: arche is the Greek for 'rule or sovereignty', and monos is the Greek word for 'alone or single'. Words for rule by a larger number of individuals are formed in the same way, using as prefixes the Greek words for the numbers. So rule by two individuals is a diarchy (or dyarchy), and rule by three, four, five, or six individuals is, respectively, a triarchy, tetrarchy, pentarchy, or hexarchy.
- Lines of verse
A line of verse with two metrical feet is a dimeter. A line of verse with three, four, five, or six metrical feet is, respectively, a trimeter, tetrameter, pentameter, or hexameter. The stem '-meter' comes from the Greek metron, which means 'measure'.
- Poems of two, three, etc., lines
A poem, or verse of a poem, composed of two lines is a distich. (A unit of two lines in a poem is also, and more commonly, referred to as a couplet.) Analogously, a poem, or verse, of three, four, five, or six lines is, respectively, a tristich, tetrastich, pentastich, or hexastich. The stem '-stich' comes from the Greek stichos, which means 'a row or file (e.g., of soldiers) or a line of verse'.
- Athletic contests
The pentathlon is an athletic contest in which the athletes must compete in five different events. But there is also a triathlon - a contest in which athletes must compete in three different events - and a heptathlon - a contest in which they must compete in seven different events. The stem '-athlon' comes from the Greek athlos, which means 'contest'.
For a small selection of similar words which make use of the Latin words for the Numbers see Latin numerical prefixes for groups.
