τιμή
Lemma: τιμή
Translation: price; cost; value; honor; respect; dignity (noun)
Etymology: From Ancient Greek τιμή (timē) meaning 'honor, worth, value, price'. This word is the root of English 'timocracy' (government by those who own property) and appears in compounds like 'epitome' (literally 'a cutting upon' but originally meaning 'abridgment'). The semantic evolution from 'honor' to 'price' reflects the ancient Greek concept that value and social worth were interconnected. The word maintains both meanings in modern Greek, making it particularly rich semantically.
Mnemonics
- Think 'TIME is money' - τιμή sounds like 'timey' and relates to both value and honor, which take time to build
- Remember 'timocracy' - rule by those with property/honor (τιμή)
Antonyms
Cultural Context
In Greek culture, τιμή carries deep significance beyond mere monetary value. The concept of honor (τιμή) is central to traditional Greek values, especially in family and social contexts. When discussing prices, Greeks often negotiate and view pricing as a social interaction rather than a fixed transaction.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: Both relate to abstract concepts but τιμή means price/honor while χρόνος means time
Confused word:
Ο χρόνος περνάει γρήγορα.
Time passes quickly.
Notes: Both are fundamental abstract nouns but in completely different semantic fields
Mnemonic: τιμή = 'timey' sounds like money/value; χρόνος = 'chronos' like chronology (time)