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[654] ἀγερώχων, apparently a desperate word; many derivations have been proposed, but not one carries conviction. It is applied by Homer to the Trojans, the Mysians, and once to an individual, Periklymenos, Od. 11.286. In Homer and Pindar it seems to be a word of praise, but later writers use it to mean ‘overbearing,’ ‘haughty.’ Pindar applies it to things, N. vi. 34, O. xi. 78, P. i. 50. It is common in Polybios, Plutarch, Philostratos, etc., though not found in pure I Attic. give without comment a number of proposed etymologies. (1) “ἄγαν γεραόχος” (Ar.); (2) “ἀπὸ τοῦ ἄγαν ἐπὶ γέρως ὀχεῖσθαι” (Et. Mag.); (3) “διὰ τὸ ἀγείρειν ὀχήν, τούτεστι τροφήν”: (4) “ἀγείρειν ὄχους”, assemblers of chariots (Döderlein); (5) “ἀγείρειν, ὠκύς”, swiftly gathering (Böttcher); (6) “ἄγα”（“ν”) “ἐρωή” (suff. “-χο-”), violent, impetuous (Göbel); (7) “ἀγα-, ἔρα, ἔχω”, having much land (Suidas); (8) “ἀγαύρως ἔχειν”, holding themselves proudly (Pott'; (9) adj. “ἀγερός”, root “ἀγ”, to admire, hence “ἀγερώσσει” (Hesych.), and “ἀγέρωχος” = exciting wonder (Schmalfeld); (10) = “ἀγέλαυχος”, the bull proudly leading his herd; Bergk (Gr. Lit. i. p. 129).

The Iliad, edited, with apparatus criticus, prolegomena, notes, and appendices. Walter Leaf. London. Macmillan. 1900.

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