theós

From Proto-Hellenic *tʰehós (whence also Mycenaean Greek 𐀳𐀃 (te-o)), a thematicization of Proto-Indo-European *déh₁-s ~ *dh₁-s-és, from *dʰeh₁- (“to do, to put, to place”) + *-s. Cognate with Phrygian δεως (deōs, “to the gods”), Old Armenian դիք (dikʿ, “pagan gods”) and Latin fēriae (“festival days”), fānum (“temple”) and fēstus (“festive”).

Despite its similarity in form and meaning, the word is not related to Latin deus; the two come from different roots. A true cognate of deus is Ζεύς (Zeús).

Pronunciation

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• IPA^(key): /tʰe.ós/ → /θeˈos/ → /θeˈos/

Adjective

θεός • (theós)

1. divine (used only in comparative: θεώτερος (theṓteros))

Noun

θεός • (theós) m or f (genitive θεοῦ); second declension(Epic, Attic, Ionic, Doric, Koine)

1. a deity, a god, God
2. title of a ruler
3. sometimes feminine (ἡ θεός): a goddess