-αίνω

Originally from Proto-Hellenic *-əňňō, from either Proto-Indo-European *-n̥yeti or *-m̥yeti, then freely used.[1]

-αίνω • (-aínō)

1. Originally found in verbs formed from nominal stems in -ᾰν- (-an-) plus Proto-Indo-European verbal suffixes *-yeti or *-yéti

   ‎μέλᾰν- (mélan-, “black”) + ‎-αίνω (-aínō) → ‎μελαίνω (melaínō, “to blacken”)

   ‎ποιμέν- (poimén-, “herdsman”) + ‎-αίνω (-aínō) → ‎ποιμαίνω (poimaínō, “to herd”) (< *poh₂imn̥yeti)

2. And on nouns with original n-stem

   ‎ὀνόματ- (onómat-, “name”) + ‎-αίνω (-aínō) → ‎ὀνομαίνω (onomaínō, “to name”) (< *h₃nomn̥yeti)

   ‎σήματ- (sḗmat-, “sign”) + ‎-αίνω (-aínō) → ‎σημαίνω (sēmaínō, “to signify”) (< *dʰyeh₂mn̥yeti)

   ‎πήματ- (pḗmat-, “misery, calamity”) + ‎-αίνω (-aínō) → ‎πημαίνω (pēmaínō, “to put in ruin”) (< *peh₁mn̥yeti)

3. Then added to other nominal stems

   ‎λευκός (leukós, “white”) + ‎-αίνω (-aínō) → ‎λευκαίνω (leukaínō, “to make white”)

   ‎χαλεπός (khalepós, “hard, angry”) + ‎-αίνω (-aínō) → ‎χαλεπαίνω (khalepaínō, “to be angry”)

• Smyth, Herbert Weir (1920) “Part III: Formation of Words”, in A Greek grammar for colleges, Cambridge: American Book Company, § 866.7

Inherited from Ancient Greek -αίνω (-aínō).

• IPA^(key): /ˈe.no/
• Hyphenation: -αί‧νω

-αίνω • (-aíno)

1. usually produces verbs indicating acquisition of a property

   ‎ζεστός (zestós, “hot”) + ‎-αίνω (-aíno) → ‎ζεσταίνω (zestaíno, “to get hot”)

   ‎άρρωστος (árrostos, “ill”) + ‎-αίνω (-aíno) → ‎αρρωσταίνω (arrostaíno, “to be taken ill”)

• Category:Greek verb conjugation group '-αίνω'

• -αίνω - Λεξικό της κοινής νεοελληνικής [Dictionary of Standard Modern Greek], 1998, by the "Triantafyllidis" Foundation.
• -αίνω - Georgakas, Demetrius, 1908-1990 (1960-2009) A Modern Greek-English Dictionary [MGED online, 2009. letter α only], Centre for the Greek language