σύν

Alternative forms

ξύν (xún) — Homeric, Old Attic^[1]
σούν (soún) — Boeotian

Etymology

Apparently from a Proto-Hellenic *ksún, but further connections are uncertain. Younger form of Homeric and Old Attic ξύν (xún), Mycenaean Greek 𐀓𐀱 (ku-su /⁠*ksun⁠/). These probably reflect Proto-Indo-European *som- (“one, together (with)”) contaminated with the *ḱ of *ḱóm (“beside, with”) along with a conflation of their meanings. However, the /u/ is unexpected and unexplained under this proposal. Note that a derivation from *som- alone is impossible since the *s- would be expected to give h- (aspiration); neither is the ks- explainable from *ḱóm alone. This makes its exact relation to Lithuanian sù and Proto-Slavic *sъ(n) dubious, but if indeed a conflation of *ḱóm and *som-, it is a cognate relation regardless.^[2]

The dative that this preposition governs continues the PIE comitative-instrumental.

Pronunciation

(5^th BCE Attic) IPA^(key): /sýn/
(1^st CE Egyptian) IPA^(key): /syn/
(4^th CE Koine) IPA^(key): /syn/
(10^th CE Byzantine) IPA^(key): /syn/
(15^th CE Constantinopolitan) IPA^(key): /sin/

Preposition

σῠ́ν • (sŭ́n) (governs the dative)

beside, with

Usage notes

In compounds it has similar applications, including completeness, simultaneity.

Derived terms

μεταξύ (metaxú)
ξυνός (xunós)
συν- (sun-)

Descendants

Greek: συν (syn)
Yevanic: שִׁין (šin)
→ Dutch: syn-
→ English: syn-, sym-
→ French: syn-
→ German: syn-
→ Italian: sin-, sim-, sil-
→ Polish: syn-

References

[1]
Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010) “σύν”, in Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 10), with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, page 1422
[2]
Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010) “ξύν”, in Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 10), volume II, with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, page 1038

Ancient Greek