Ancient Greek

Suffix

-αίνω • ‎(-aínō)

1. Originally found in verbs formed from nominal stems in -ᾰν- ‎(-an-) plus Proto-Indo-European verbal suffixes *-yeti or *-yéti

   μέλᾰν- ‎(mélan-, “black”) + ‎-αίνω ‎(-aínō) → ‎μελαίνω ‎(melaínō, “to blacken”)

2. Then added to other nominal stems

   εὔφρων ‎(eúphrōn, “glad”) + ‎-αίνω ‎(-aínō) → ‎εὐφραίνω ‎(euphraínō, “to gladden”)

   σῆμα ‎(sêma, “sign”) + ‎-αίνω ‎(-aínō) → ‎σημαίνω ‎(sēmaínō, “to signify”)

   χαλεπός ‎(khalepós, “hard, angry”) + ‎-αίνω ‎(-aínō) → ‎χαλεπαίνω ‎(khalepaínō, “to be angry”)

Derived terms

References

• Smyth, Herbert Weir (1920), “Part III: Formation of Words”, in A Greek grammar for colleges, Cambridge: American Book Company, § 866

Greek

Suffix

-αίνω • ‎(-aíno)

1. usually produces verbs indicating acquisition of a property:

   ζεστός ‎(zestós, “hot”)     ζεσταίνω ‎(zestaíno, “to get hot”)

   άρρωστος ‎(árrostos, “ill”)     αρρωσταίνω ‎(arrostaíno, “to be taken ill”)

Derived terms