- ἑλεῖν
- ἑλεῖνGrammatical information: v.Meaning: `take, get into one's power', med. `take to himself, choose' (Il.).Other forms: Aor., iterative-preterite ἕλεσκονCompounds: Often with prefix: ἀφ-, ἀν-, ἐξ-, προ- usw. As 1. in ἑλέ-π(τ)ολις `conquering cities' surname of Helena (A. Ag. 689 [lyr.]), also name of a siege machine (Ph. Bel.); ἑλένα\<υ\>ς (A. ibid.) with reference to Helena.Derivatives: ἕλωρ n. (only in nom.-acc. sg. and pl.) `plunder, capture, booty' (Il.); also (Schwyzer 470, n. 4) ἑλώριον `id.'.Origin: XX [etym. unknown]Etymology: As some places suggest an anl. Ϝ- (diff. Solmsen Unt. 251 n. 1), Chantraine Form. 219, Gramm. hom. 1, 152 considers an alternation *swel-\/sel- and connection with ἁλίσκομαι, Lat. vellō (unclear). Beside ἑλεῖν Germanic has a jot present Goth. saljan `offer, sacrifice', ONord. selja `render, sell', OHG sellen `render, give up' etc. (evt Gr. *ὁλέω) with the postverbal nouns ONord. sal(a) `rendition, sale', OHG sala `rendering' etc. Because of the meaning it is generally considered as a causative to ἑλεῖν ("nehmen machen"), which is unnecessary, cf. αἴνυμαι, also e. g. ONord. fā (= Goth. fahan) `take' and `give'. OCS sъlati `send' is doubtful, as is Lat. cōn-silium, s. Vasmer Russ. et. Wb. s. slatь and W.-Hofmann s. v. - As suppletive verb to ἑλεῖν we have αἱρέω (s. v.).Page in Frisk: 1,487-488
Greek-English etymological dictionary (Ελληνικά-Αγγλικά ετυμολογική λεξικό). Robert S.P.. 2010.