Aorist Tense
Simple past action (single event)
The aorist is the default past tense in Greek, describing a simple, completed action
without emphasis on duration. Think of it as a snapshot of a past event.
Types of aorist:
• First (weak) aorist: augment + stem + σα + endings (ἔλυσα - I loosed)
• Second (strong) aorist: augment + different stem + endings (ἔλαβον - I took)
• Root aorist: irregular forms (ἔγνων - I came to know, ἔβην - I went)
The aorist is the most common past tense in narrative. In moods other than indicative,
aorist indicates aspect (simple action) rather than past time.
Examples from Texts
Here are some words showing the aorist tense in actual Greek texts:
εἶπαν
εἶπον
speak, say
verb
plural
aorist
active
indicative
πομφόλυξαν
πομφολύζω
bubble
verb
plural
aorist
active
indicative
συγκοιμήσεται
συγκοιμάομαι
sleep with, lie with
verb
singular
aorist
middle/passive
subjunctive
ἀντιφήσῃ
ἀντίφημι
say ‘no’, contradict
verb
singular
aorist
middle
subjunctive
κατεγγυηθείς
κατεγγυάω
pledge, betroth
participle
nominative
masculine
singular
aorist
passive
ἀποψυχθῇ
ἀποψύχω
leave off breathing, faint, swoon
verb
singular
aorist
passive
subjunctive
ἀκονήσαιμι
ἀκονάω
sharpen
verb
singular
aorist
active
optative
ἀναδεῦσαι
ἀναδεύω
soak, steep
verb
aorist
active
infinitive