Greek to me

[stillsostrange]

I have some scholarly types out there who know Greek, right? I'm trying to figure out what the archaic Greek of baptism is. I've found baptizmo and baptizein, but I'm not sure which is, if either, is better. Anybody?

Comments

[hawkwing-lb.livejournal.com]

Are we talking ancient Greek, or middle ages Greek? Because I can help with the first, but not the second.

Baptizein (βαπτιξειν) means "to baptise". Baptizo (Βαπτιξω), is the verb form you'll find in the dictionary, and means "I baptise".

Baptism ('the baptism') is variously to baptizma (neuter, genitive form baptizmatos) or ho baptizmos (masculine, genitive form baptizmou).*

I don't think there's much difference in which is used: it's not the only noun in Greek to have more than one gender.

Any use to you?

*According to the Pocket Oxford Classical Dictionary, anyway.

[stillsostrange.livejournal.com]

Lovely, thanks!

[hawkwing-lb.livejournal.com]

Welcome. :)

[sovay]

Your Greek situation seems to be well in hand, so I will point out only that I really liked "Pinion" in Not One of Us #40. What is the relationship of short story to novel?

[stillsostrange.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

The short story is a prequel and origin story, of sorts. The novel takes place a few years later. And ever since I wrote Wing/little-Pinion, I've been trying to figure out exactly what happened with the carrion monster.

[sovay]

And ever since I wrote Wing/little-Pinion, I've been trying to figure out exactly what happened with the carrion monster.

The Strix? I would love to know.