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[wordsmithic]

☆ﾟ. * : ☾ 10+1 Greek words for the Heavens ☽ .* :☆ﾟ.

Please note that the full and/or root words mentioned here, like most Greek words, are still in use since antiquity. As a Greek speaker, I love sharing my interesting language with people like you! ☽

1. σελήνη (selíni, n)

The moon. Literally: "The She-bright"

From σελ (light)

2. ανατολή (anatolí, n)

Lit. Rising. Used as “sunrise”.

From ανά- (up) +‎ τέλλω (to perform, accomplish, to move towards and end/goal).

3. αμφιλύκη (amphilíki, n)

The faint light in the sky before it gets dark. Literally: "She-on-both-sides-of-wolves"

From ἀμφί ("on both sides") + λύκος (wolf)

From The Iliad:

Ὅμηρος, Ἰλιάς, 7 (Η. Ἕκτορος καὶ Αἴαντος μονομαχία. Νεκρῶν ἀναίρεσις.), στίχ. 433 (στίχοι 433-437) Ἦμος δ' οὔτ' ἄρ πω ἠώς, ἔτι δ' ἀμφιλύκη νύξ, / τῆμος ἄρ' ἀμφὶ πυρὴν κριτὸς ἔγρετο λαὸς Ἀχαιῶν

4. λυκαυγές (likavghés, n)

The light or dawn that occurs at dawn when wolves are most active, often used poetically to signify the first light of day or twilight. Litearlly: "Wolf-dawn".

From λύκος (wolf) + αυγή (dawn)

5. γλυκοχάραμα (ghlykokhárama, n)

A poetic expression for a beautiful dawn. The sun is considered to be etching/carving its way up onto the sky. Literally: "Sweet-etching / Sweet-dawn".

From γλυκός (sweet) + χάραμα (etching, carving, metaph. "dawn").

6. ηλιοβασίλεμα (iljovasílema, n)

Sunset. Literally: "The Sun’s Reign"

From ήλιος (sun) + βασίλευμα (reign, n).

7. αστροναύτης (astronáftis, n)

It’s the word “astronaut” derives from. Literally: "Star sailor".

From ἄστρον (star) +  ναύτης (sailor, navigator – derived from ναῦς (naús, "ship").

8. κόσμος (kόsmos, n)

Literally: Adornment. It evolved to mean "the ordered/beautiful world" and later just “world” and "people." Of course, it’s still used with its literal meaning in words such as “διάκοσμος”, meaning “décor”.

From κοσμέω (to adorn, to arrange)

9. κομήτης (komítis, n)

"The-one-with-a-stream-of-hair". Comet. Refers to the tail of the comet resembling a stream of hair.

From κόμη (hair) + suffix -της (agent).

10. ουρανοκατέβατος (ouranokatévatos, adj)

Lit. "Sky-descended". Often used humorously or sarcastically to describe unexpected occurrences.

From οὐρανός (sky, heaven) + κατεβαίνω (to descend).

11. αιθεροβάμμων (etherovámon, adj)

Lit. "Sky-walker / Sky-wanderer". A dreamer or visionary, with their "head in the clouds." A poetic or lofty thinker who seems detached from earthly concerns. The adjective has negative connotations.

From αἰθέρας (ether" or "sky," from αἰθήρ (aithēr), which signifies the upper, pure air or celestial realm) + βαίνω (to walk, to step.)

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