ρώννυμι
Lemma: ρώννυμι
Translation: to strengthen; to fortify; to invigorate; to make strong (verb)
Etymology: From ancient Greek ρώννυμι, related to the root meaning 'strength' or 'vigor'. This verb shares etymological connections with English words like 'robust' (through Latin robustus) in the sense of strength and vigor. The word is built on the Indo-European root *h₃reuǵ- meaning 'to vomit, belch' but evolved in Greek to mean 'to strengthen' through semantic development. Interestingly, this verb appears in the common Greek farewell 'ρώσο' (be strong/farewell), making it one of the most frequently encountered ancient verbs in modern contexts.
Mnemonics
- Think 'RONN-ymi' sounds like 'STRONG-ami' - to make strong
- Remember 'ρώσο' (roso) = 'be robust' for farewells
Synonyms
Antonyms
Example Wordforms
Cultural Context
This ancient Greek verb is rarely used in modern Greek except in formal, literary, or religious contexts. However, its imperative form 'ρώσο' (be strong/farewell) remains common in formal farewells and correspondence, similar to 'fare thee well' in English.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: ρώννυμι means 'to strengthen' while ρωτώ means 'to ask'. They share similar initial sounds but have completely different meanings and usage frequency.
This word:
Ρώσο, φίλε μου!
Be strong, my friend!
Confused word:
Ρωτώ μια ερώτηση.
I ask a question.
Notes: ρωτώ is extremely common in modern Greek while ρώννυμι is archaic except in set phrases
Mnemonic: ρώννυμι = 'ROW-nymi' (row with strength), ρωτώ = 'ro-TO' (question TO someone)