The Greek word 'adynaton,2 What is the precise meaning of this word
By urbandekay
@urbandekay (18278)
April 8, 2013 4:06am CST
This word is translated as impossible but the word impossible has several meanings
1. Logically impossible; I cannot conceive of a square circle
2. Potentially impossible; I lack the potency to fly or walk through walls
3. Against one's character; we might say it is impossible for this person to have been the murderer, he is not that sort of person (Sometimes later to find out he was)
So, I am wondering which of these or other uses the word 'adynaton.'
all the best, urban
2 people like this
4 responses
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
8 Apr 13
I think that, in Greek, the word adynaton might have been used in all of those senses but originally in the (literal) sense of "not having the power to do/be something".
The word comes from 'a-' (= without) and 'dynaton' (= possessing power or ability). The word is from the same root as the one which gives us the words 'dynamic', 'dynamism', 'dynamo' and is equivalent to the Latin word 'posse' (= to be able) from which we derive the word 'impossible'. (The word 'posse' meaning a group of men engaged in law enforcement is an abbreviation of a Mediaeval Latin term, posse comitatis, meaning 'the force of the county'). 'Posse' is also related to the word 'potens' meaning power from which we get such words as 'potentate', 'potential', 'impotent'. 'Imposse' in Latin is therefore the exact equivalent of the Greek 'adynaton'.
In both languages, the original sense of not having the (physical) power to do something was very early on used in the metaphorical sense of not being able to do/be something.
The word 'Adynaton' is also used in rhetoric as a term for a "form of hyperbole that uses exaggeration so magnified as to express impossibility." Common examples are "When Hell freezes over" or "when pigs can fly".
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
9 Apr 13
Gosh owlwings - you have said it all. Both you and Urban are so clever and bright.
all the best, urban
@gjabaigar (2200)
• Philippines
8 Apr 13
You use usually use these kind of rhetoric figurative word of speech senior urbandekay. Or a hyperbole or exaggeration. Jesus use also hyperbole or adynaton rhetoric figurative word of speech in his gospels teachings. But of course your not Jesus, your a comedienne or a humorist literature kind of person. Just like people in comedy central and animations i.e. Community, Modern Family, Family Guy, Cleveland, South Park and so on.
Sample of Jesus using hyperbole or adynaton.
Luke 14:26: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.”
Matthew 19:24
Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God."
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
9 Apr 13
I can help you put with the quote of the eye of a needle. There were no neeedles as we know them.
The eye of the needle was as follows.
A needle was a small opening into a structure/gate/wall that protected a city. There were the big gates and then this small opening. This opneing was wide enough for a camel to enter and the tax man was ready to insect all the goods that the camel was carrying in order to tax the owner/driver.Every camel was stopped and examined.
@inopiratum_a_medio12 (877)
•
8 Apr 13
all I understood is impossible ha ha well, base from my analysis it depends on the usage of the word from the statement just like the simple word to meet with other friends or people then to meet the target from the quota given- two statement using meet but different meaning from the use of statement
