adelphos

[bingley]

I see from LSJ (http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/pt ... %3D%231212) that [face=SPIonic]a)delfo/j [/face] means brother or more specifically son of the same mother.<br /><br />Does this mean it usually refers to half-brothers? If so, what about half-brothers through the father or full brothers? What were they called?

[Emma_85]

As far as I know, [face=SPIonic]adelfov[/face] is not only used to refer to half-brothers, but just brothers in general. I'm not too sure about half-brothers from the fathers side, as it means son of the same mother... I'd have to ask my teacher...

[greagach]

indeed, [face=SPIonic] a)delfo/j [/face] is the general term for "brother". What is written on LSJ obviously refers to the etymology of the word: "having shared the same womb". <br /><br /> If one wants to specify the kind of brotherhood relationship, one would have to use one of the following:<br /><br /> born of the same parents: [face=SPIonic] au)ta/delfoj , a)mfiqalh/j [/face]<br /> sharing only one common parent: [face=SPIonic] <br />e(teroqalh/j , a)llhlopro/gonoj [/face], and more specifically of the same father: [face=SPIonic] <br />o(mopa/trioj [/face], and of the same mother: [face=SPIonic] o(momh/trioj , o(moga/strioj [/face]<br /> <br />and to put it the other way round,<br /> sharing a different father: [face=SPIonic]<br /> a)mfipa/trioj[/face], <br />or a different mother: [face=SPIonic] a)mfimh/trioj , <br />e(teromh/trioj , e(teroga/strioj [/face] <br /><br /> but as if this weren't enough, the Greeks wanted to further insist on brotherhood, having the word [face=SPIonic] o(moga/laktoj [/face], for brothers who, even if they weren't born by the same parent, at least they were breast-fed by the same mother or wet-nurse.<br /><br /> and then, there are words like [face=SPIonic] <br />o(mai/mwn , su/ggonoj [/face]. But thank God, like in most cases, all these synonyms make really good sense in their structure, are easy to pronounce, to analyse and thus to comprehend.

[bingley]

Thank you, greagach

[Beyonder]

[face=SPIonic] Delfo/j [/face] is the womb<br />Using the (sometimes) imperative 'A' we have a meaning of those from the same womb.<br /><br />Also check that womb in Greek is [face=SPIonic] Mh/tra [/face] and from the same root we have [face=SPIonic] Mh/thr, Ma/thr [/face] in Latin:Mater, German:Mutter, English:Mother<br /><br />Take Care,<br /><br />Giw/rgoj

[Keesa]

Where does philos fall into the picture? It means something like "brotherly love," doesn't it? Or have I gotten it mixed up with something else (again)? <br /><br />Keesa

[klewlis]

philos = loved, beloved, dear, or (substantive) friend<br /><br />so philadelphia = philos + adelphos = (loosely) brotherly love<br /><br />(which is probably what you were thinking of, no?)

[Keesa]

No, not actually...I had forgotten Philadelphia. I was actually thinking about philos, stoge, agape, and discussing them with a friend the other day. <br /><br />I had always heard Philadelphia translated "City of Brotherly Love," from philos, brotherly love, and delphia, city. You say it is from philos+adelphos. Was I mistaken? <br /><br />Keesa

[klewlis]

I don't know... you're the american ;)

[Emma_85]

Klewlis is right Keesa <br />City is either polis, astu or ptoliethron (Homer).

[Keesa]

Oh, thank you! I was quite clearly confused...my usual state of mind! <br /><br />Keesa