αἰσθάνομαι

See also: αισθάνομαι

Ancient Greek

Alternative forms

• αἴσθομαι (aísthomai)

Etymology

From Proto-Hellenic *awistʰomai, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ewis-dʰh₁-, from *h₂ew- (“to see, perceive”), from which also comes ἀΐω (aḯō). Cognates include Latin audiō (“I hear”), Sanskrit आविस् (āvís, “openly, manifestly, evidently”), and Hittite 𒌋𒀪𒄭 (u-uḫ-ḫi, “I see”).

Pronunciation

 

• IPA^(key): /ai̯s.tʰá.no.mai̯/ → /ɛsˈθa.no.mɛ/ → /esˈθa.no.me/

• (5^th BCE Attic) IPA^(key): /ai̯s.tʰá.no.mai̯/
• (1^st CE Egyptian) IPA^(key): /ɛsˈtʰa.no.mɛ/
• (4^th CE Koine) IPA^(key): /ɛsˈθa.no.mɛ/
• (10^th CE Byzantine) IPA^(key): /esˈθa.no.me/
• (15^th CE Constantinopolitan) IPA^(key): /esˈθa.no.me/

Verb

αἰσθάνομαι • (aisthánomai)

1. (transitive) to perceive, apprehend, notice [+genitive or accusative = something], [+nominative participle = oneself doing, that one is doing], [+genitive and genitive participle = that someone or something is doing, does], with ὅτι (hóti) or ὡς (hōs) and a verb: that ...
   • 460 BCE – 395 BCE, Thucydides, 2 51.4:

     δεινότατον δὲ παντὸς ἦν τοῦ κακοῦ ἥ τε ἀθυμία ὁπότε τις αἴσθοιτο κάμνων

     deinótaton dè pantòs ên toû kakoû hḗ te athumía hopóte tis aísthoito kámnōn

     The most horrible misery of all was the despair when someone felt themselves getting sick

   • 445 BCE – 380 BCE, Lysias, For Mantitheus 20:

     ἤδη δέ τινων ᾐσθόμην, ὦ βουλή, καὶ διὰ ταῦτα ἀχθομένων μοι, ὅτι νεώτερος ὢν ἐπεχείρησα λέγειν ἐν τῷ δήμῳ.

     ḗdē dé tinōn ēisthómēn, ô boulḗ, kaì dià taûta akhthoménōn moi, hóti neṓteros ṑn epekheírēsa légein en tôi dḗmōi.

     I have by now observed, council, that some people are annoyed at me that I am too young to attempt speaking in public.

   • 428 BCE – 347 BCE, Plato, Theag. 122c:

     αἰσθώμεθα γελοῖοι ὄντες

     aisthṓmetha geloîoi óntes

     we may see that we are ridiculous

2. (transitive, intransitive) to understand
3. (transitive) to learn

Inflection

   Present: αἰσθάνομαι

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
middle/ passive	indicative	αἰσθάνομαι	αἰσθάνῃ, αἰσθάνει	αἰσθάνεται	αἰσθάνεσθον	αἰσθάνεσθον	αἰσθανόμεθᾰ	αἰσθάνεσθε	αἰσθάνονται
	subjunctive	αἰσθάνωμαι	αἰσθάνῃ	αἰσθάνηται	αἰσθάνησθον	αἰσθάνησθον	αἰσθανώμεθᾰ	αἰσθάνησθε	αἰσθάνωνται
	optative	αἰσθανοίμην	αἰσθάνοιο	αἰσθάνοιτο	αἰσθάνοισθον	αἰσθανοίσθην	αἰσθανοίμεθᾰ	αἰσθάνοισθε	αἰσθάνοιντο
	imperative		αἰσθάνου	αἰσθανέσθω	αἰσθάνεσθον	αἰσθανέσθων		αἰσθάνεσθε	αἰσθανέσθων
						middle/passive
infinitive						αἰσθάνεσθαι
participle	m					αἰσθανόμενος
	f					αἰσθανομένη
	n					αἰσθανόμενον
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Imperfect: ᾐσθανόμην

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
middle/ passive	indicative	ᾐσθανόμην	ᾐσθάνου	ᾐσθάνετο	ᾐσθάνεσθον	ᾐσθανέσθην	ᾐσθανόμεθᾰ	ᾐσθάνεσθε	ᾐσθάνοντο
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Future: αἰσθήσομαι, αἰσθηθήσομαι

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
middle	indicative	αἰσθήσομαι	αἰσθήσῃ, αἰσθήσει	αἰσθήσεται	αἰσθήσεσθον	αἰσθήσεσθον	αἰσθησόμεθᾰ	αἰσθήσεσθε	αἰσθήσονται
	optative	αἰσθησοίμην	αἰσθήσοιο	αἰσθήσοιτο	αἰσθήσοισθον	αἰσθησοίσθην	αἰσθησοίμεθᾰ	αἰσθήσοισθε	αἰσθήσοιντο
passive	indicative	αἰσθηθήσομαι	αἰσθηθήσῃ	αἰσθηθήσεται	αἰσθηθήσεσθον	αἰσθηθήσεσθον	αἰσθηθησόμεθᾰ	αἰσθηθήσεσθε	αἰσθηθήσονται
	optative	αἰσθηθησοίμην	αἰσθηθήσοιο	αἰσθηθήσοιτο	αἰσθηθήσοισθον	αἰσθηθησοίσθην	αἰσθηθησοίμεθᾰ	αἰσθηθήσοισθε	αἰσθηθήσοιντο
					middle		passive
infinitive					αἰσθήσεσθαι		αἰσθηθήσεσθαι
participle	m				αἰσθησόμενος		αἰσθηθησόμενος
	f				αἰσθησομένη		αἰσθηθησομένη
	n				αἰσθησόμενον		αἰσθηθησόμενον
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Future: αἰσθανθήσομαι

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
passive	indicative	αἰσθανθήσομαι	αἰσθανθήσῃ	αἰσθανθήσεται	αἰσθανθήσεσθον	αἰσθανθήσεσθον	αἰσθανθησόμεθᾰ	αἰσθανθήσεσθε	αἰσθανθήσονται
	optative	αἰσθανθησοίμην	αἰσθανθήσοιο	αἰσθανθήσοιτο	αἰσθανθήσοισθον	αἰσθανθησοίσθην	αἰσθανθησοίμεθᾰ	αἰσθανθήσοισθε	αἰσθανθήσοιντο
							passive
infinitive							αἰσθανθήσεσθαι
participle	m						αἰσθανθησόμενος
	f						αἰσθανθησομένη
	n						αἰσθανθησόμενον
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Aorist: ᾐσθόμην, ᾐσθήθην

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
middle	indicative	ᾐσθόμην	ᾔσθου	ᾔσθετο	ᾔσθεσθον	ᾐσθέσθην	ᾐσθόμεθᾰ	ᾔσθεσθε	ᾔσθοντο
	subjunctive	αἴσθωμαι	αἴσθῃ	αἴσθηται	αἴσθησθον	αἴσθησθον	αἰσθώμεθᾰ	αἴσθησθε	αἴσθωνται
	optative	αἰσθοίμην	αἴσθοιο	αἴσθοιτο	αἴσθοισθον	αἰσθοίσθην	αἰσθοίμεθᾰ	αἴσθοισθε	αἴσθοιντο
	imperative		αἰσθοῦ	αἰσθέσθω	αἴσθεσθον	αἰσθέσθων		αἴσθεσθε	αἰσθέσθων
passive	indicative	ᾐσθήθην	ᾐσθήθης	ᾐσθήθη	ᾐσθήθητον	ᾐσθηθήτην	ᾐσθήθημεν	ᾐσθήθητε	ᾐσθήθησᾰν
	subjunctive	αἰσθηθῶ	αἰσθηθῇς	αἰσθηθῇ	αἰσθηθῆτον	αἰσθηθῆτον	αἰσθηθῶμεν	αἰσθηθῆτε	αἰσθηθῶσῐ(ν)
	optative	αἰσθηθείην	αἰσθηθείης	αἰσθηθείη	αἰσθηθεῖτον, αἰσθηθείητον	αἰσθηθείτην, αἰσθηθειήτην	αἰσθηθεῖμεν, αἰσθηθείημεν	αἰσθηθεῖτε, αἰσθηθείητε	αἰσθηθεῖεν, αἰσθηθείησᾰν
	imperative		αἰσθήθητῐ	αἰσθηθήτω	αἰσθήθητον	αἰσθηθήτων		αἰσθήθητε	αἰσθηθέντων
					middle		passive
infinitive					αἰσθέσθαι		αἰσθηθῆναι
participle	m				αἰσθόμενος		αἰσθηθείς
	f				αἰσθομένη		αἰσθηθεῖσᾰ
	n				αἰσθόμενον		αἰσθηθέν
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Aorist: ᾐσθησᾰ́μην, ᾐσθήθην

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
middle	indicative	ᾐσθησᾰ́μην	ᾐσθήσω	ᾐσθήσᾰτο	ᾐσθήσᾰσθον	ᾐσθησᾰ́σθην	ᾐσθησᾰ́μεθᾰ	ᾐσθήσᾰσθε	ᾐσθήσᾰντο
	subjunctive	αἰσθήσωμαι	αἰσθήσῃ	αἰσθήσηται	αἰσθήσησθον	αἰσθήσησθον	αἰσθησώμεθᾰ	αἰσθήσησθε	αἰσθήσωνται
	optative	αἰσθησαίμην	αἰσθήσαιο	αἰσθήσαιτο	αἰσθήσαισθον	αἰσθησαίσθην	αἰσθησαίμεθᾰ	αἰσθήσαισθε	αἰσθήσαιντο
	imperative		αἴσθησαι	αἰσθησᾰ́σθω	αἰσθήσᾰσθον	αἰσθησᾰ́σθων		αἰσθήσᾰσθε	αἰσθησᾰ́σθων
passive	indicative	ᾐσθήθην	ᾐσθήθης	ᾐσθήθη	ᾐσθήθητον	ᾐσθηθήτην	ᾐσθήθημεν	ᾐσθήθητε	ᾐσθήθησᾰν
	subjunctive	αἰσθηθῶ	αἰσθηθῇς	αἰσθηθῇ	αἰσθηθῆτον	αἰσθηθῆτον	αἰσθηθῶμεν	αἰσθηθῆτε	αἰσθηθῶσῐ(ν)
	optative	αἰσθηθείην	αἰσθηθείης	αἰσθηθείη	αἰσθηθεῖτον, αἰσθηθείητον	αἰσθηθείτην, αἰσθηθειήτην	αἰσθηθεῖμεν, αἰσθηθείημεν	αἰσθηθεῖτε, αἰσθηθείητε	αἰσθηθεῖεν, αἰσθηθείησᾰν
	imperative		αἰσθήθητῐ	αἰσθηθήτω	αἰσθήθητον	αἰσθηθήτων		αἰσθήθητε	αἰσθηθέντων
					middle		passive
infinitive					αἰσθήσᾰσθαι		αἰσθηθῆναι
participle	m				αἰσθησᾰ́μενος		αἰσθηθείς
	f				αἰσθησᾰμένη		αἰσθηθεῖσᾰ
	n				αἰσθησᾰ́μενον		αἰσθηθέν
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

   Perfect: ᾔσθημαι

number		singular			dual		plural
		first	second	third	second	third	first	second	third
middle/ passive	indicative	ᾔσθημαι	ᾔσθησαι	ᾔσθηται	ᾔσθησθον	ᾔσθησθον	ᾐσθήμεθᾰ	ᾔσθησθε	ᾔσθηνται
	subjunctive	ᾐσθημένος ὦ	ᾐσθημένος ᾖς	ᾐσθημένος ᾖ	ᾐσθημένω ἦτον	ᾐσθημένω ἦτον	ᾐσθημένοι ὦμεν	ᾐσθημένοι ἦτε	ᾐσθημένοι ὦσῐ(ν)
	optative	ᾐσθημένος εἴην	ᾐσθημένος εἴης	ᾐσθημένος εἴη	ᾐσθημένω εἴητον/εἶτον	ᾐσθημένω εἰήτην/εἴτην	ᾐσθημένοι εἴημεν/εἶμεν	ᾐσθημένοι εἴητε/εἶτε	ᾐσθημένοι εἴησᾰν/εἶεν
	imperative		ᾔσθησο	ᾐσθήσθω	ᾔσθησθον	ᾐσθήσθων		ᾔσθησθε	ᾐσθήσθων
						middle/passive
infinitive						ᾐσθῆσθαι
participle	m					ᾐσθημένος
	f					ᾐσθημένη
	n					ᾐσθημένον
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.

Derived terms

• αἴσθησις (aísthēsis)

Descendants

• Greek: αισθάνομαι (aisthánomai)

Further reading

• “αἰσθάνομαι”, in Liddell & Scott (1940) A Greek–English Lexicon, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• “αἰσθάνομαι”, in Liddell & Scott (1889) An Intermediate Greek–English Lexicon, New York: Harper & Brothers
• αἰσθάνομαι in Bailly, Anatole (1935) Le Grand Bailly: Dictionnaire grec-français, Paris: Hachette
• Bauer, Walter et al. (2001) A Greek–English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, Third edition, Chicago: University of Chicago Press
• αἰσθάνομαι in the Diccionario Griego–Español en línea (2006–2024)
• G143 in Strong, James (1979) Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance to the Bible
• Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010) Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 10), with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN