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This site claims that Katherine comes from the Greek word aikia, which means "torture", but other baby name sites claim that Katherine derives from katateino, which is also supposedly Greek for "torture". Anyone know which is correct? Could Katherine have come from both words?
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Katateino (κατατείνω) means tend, seek, aim, go towards. Ι doubt Katherine derives from katateino, the Hekate -> Hekaterine -> Aikaterine -> Katerina -> Katharina -> Katherine explanation seems more plausible to me. I guess it could also be influenced by other names/words but I've never heard the katateino theory before.
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Thanks for the info. So you don't believe aikia plays a role in Aikaterine either?
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You're welcome!
Maybe it influenced the spelling (from Hekaterine to Aikaterine) but I'm not sure.
Maybe it influenced the spelling (from Hekaterine to Aikaterine) but I'm not sure.
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You have greatly simplified what this site "claims" as it clearly states that the etymology of Katherine is disputed and the theory that it comes from aikia is only one of several possibilities.
I hope someone who knows ancient Greek will comment on whether or not katateino was even a real ancient Greek word. On short notice I can't find reference to it except on the other baby name sites you mention.
I hope someone who knows ancient Greek will comment on whether or not katateino was even a real ancient Greek word. On short notice I can't find reference to it except on the other baby name sites you mention.
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I don't know Greek either, but anyway the word / word form "katateino" itself seems to be legit:
http://perseus.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/cgi-bin///lexindex?lang=greek&display=&lookup=katatei/nw
No idea whether it really has a connection with the name.
http://perseus.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/cgi-bin///lexindex?lang=greek&display=&lookup=katatei/nw
No idea whether it really has a connection with the name.
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