Difference between revisions of "Agape"
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PeterWilson (Talk | contribs) (New page: There are two homographs in English written '''agape'''. They have completely separate origins, meanings and pronunciations. *The more common is an adverb derived from an Old [[Nor...) |
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There are two [[homograph]]s in English written '''agape'''. They have completely separate origins, meanings and pronunciations. | There are two [[homograph]]s in English written '''agape'''. They have completely separate origins, meanings and pronunciations. | ||
| − | *The more common is an [[adverb]] derived from an Old [[North Germanic]] [[verb]] ''gapa'', 'to gape', 'hold the mouth wide open', [[prefix]]ed by the common [[Old English]] '''a-''' suggesting position. It means 'with the mouth held [wide] open [in wonder, shock etc]'. This word is pronounced 'er-GAPE' {{IPA| | + | *The more common is an [[adverb]] derived from an Old [[North Germanic]] [[verb]] ''gapa'', 'to gape', 'hold the mouth wide open', [[prefix]]ed by the common [[Old English]] '''a-''' suggesting position. It means 'with the mouth held [wide] open [in wonder, shock etc]'. This word is pronounced 'er-GAPE' {{IPA|ə'geɪp}}. If used as an [[adjective]], 'agape' must be placed after the [[noun]] it qualifies (i.e., must be used [[postpositive]]ly): before a [[noun]], 'gaping', or 'wide open' might suit, or use the idiom 'with his jaw dropped', or 'jaw-dropping[ly]'. (For other [[adjective]]s which, like 'agape', cannot be used before the [[noun]] they qualify, see [[Adjectives not used in the attributive position]].) |
| − | *A word more likely to be found in academic English, specifically in Theology, is the [[noun]] '''agape'''. It is | + | *A word more likely to be found in academic English, specifically in Theology, is the [[noun]] '''agape'''. It is a [[transliteration]] of the [[Greek]] word ἀγάπη (''agape''), 'brotherly love'. From this origin come its trisyllabic pronunciation 'A-gerp-i', {{IPA|'ægəpɪ}}, and the [[plural]] form preferred in academic circles '''agapae''' or '''agapai'''. It is a term used in the Christian religion, where it is a commonplace to distinguish '''agape''' ('holy love', first that of Man to God, later extended to that between individuals in a completely non-sexual way) from '''eros''' (ἔρως, 'bodily love' or the natural sexual bond). This distinction was later extended by [[C.S.Lewis]], in ''[[The Four Loves]]'' (1960), a book written in his role as a popular theologian, to '''agape''', '''eros''', '''storge''' (στοργή, 'affection') and '''philia''' (φιλία, 'friendship'). |
| − | ::The current use of | + | ::The current use of ἀγάπη (''agape'') is translated in the [[AV]] as "charity", reflecting the [[Vulgate]] [[Latin]] ''caritas''. |
| − | **Historically, | + | **Historically, ἀγάπη in the context of Christianity was first used to mean the 'love-feast' of the early Christians, roughly equivalent to the modern [[Eucharist]]. |
[[Category:disambig]] | [[Category:disambig]] | ||
Latest revision as of 17:07, 25 March 2015
There are two homographs in English written agape. They have completely separate origins, meanings and pronunciations.
- The more common is an adverb derived from an Old North Germanic verb gapa, 'to gape', 'hold the mouth wide open', prefixed by the common Old English a- suggesting position. It means 'with the mouth held [wide] open [in wonder, shock etc]'. This word is pronounced 'er-GAPE' IPA: /ə'geɪp/. If used as an adjective, 'agape' must be placed after the noun it qualifies (i.e., must be used postpositively): before a noun, 'gaping', or 'wide open' might suit, or use the idiom 'with his jaw dropped', or 'jaw-dropping[ly]'. (For other adjectives which, like 'agape', cannot be used before the noun they qualify, see Adjectives not used in the attributive position.)
- A word more likely to be found in academic English, specifically in Theology, is the noun agape. It is a transliteration of the Greek word ἀγάπη (agape), 'brotherly love'. From this origin come its trisyllabic pronunciation 'A-gerp-i', IPA: /'ægəpɪ/, and the plural form preferred in academic circles agapae or agapai. It is a term used in the Christian religion, where it is a commonplace to distinguish agape ('holy love', first that of Man to God, later extended to that between individuals in a completely non-sexual way) from eros (ἔρως, 'bodily love' or the natural sexual bond). This distinction was later extended by C.S.Lewis, in The Four Loves (1960), a book written in his role as a popular theologian, to agape, eros, storge (στοργή, 'affection') and philia (φιλία, 'friendship').
- Historically, ἀγάπη in the context of Christianity was first used to mean the 'love-feast' of the early Christians, roughly equivalent to the modern Eucharist.
