theios

Theios, written in Greek as θεῖος, is an ancient Greek adjective meaning divine or godlike. It is used to describe gods themselves or things associated with the divine. The term has three primary gender forms: masculine θεῖος, feminine θεία, and neuter θεῖον, and it appears across classical Greek literature, including epic, drama, and philosophical writings.

Etymology and range: Theios derives from a root connected with sacredness and godliness in the Greek language. In classical usage it marks a quality of being worthy of the gods or possessing divine attributes. It is commonly applied to deities, sacred phenomena, or persons and objects regarded as blessed or awe-inspiring.

Usage and nuance: In poetry and prose, theios can emphasize sacredness or awe and often functions as a stylistic intensifier of a divine attribute. It can modify a wide range of nouns, from names of gods to descriptions of celestial signs or rites. The sense is not merely mortal plus holy; it denotes a more fundamental divine character or status.

Modern usage: In modern Greek, the common word for "divine" is θεϊκός (theikos). θεῖος survives primarily in literary or scholarly contexts, especially in studies of ancient Greek language and literature or in poetic translation. The term is encountered mainly among scholars and readers engaged with ancient texts rather than in everyday speech.