πότος
pótos
G4224 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Drinking session, especially a social gathering centered on the consumption of wine or other alcoholic beverages. The term primarily denotes an occasion characterized by communal drinking, often with emphasis on festivity, entertainment, or revelry. In certain contexts, the word can carry neutral or pejorative connotations, depending on the nature of the gathering (orderly banquet versus disorderly carousal).
Semantic Range
drinking-party, drinking-session, carousal, drinking-bout, social banquet with a focus on drinking, convivial gathering
Root / Etymology
From the alternate stem of πίνω (to drink), specifically from poetic or dialectal forms; related to the act of drinking. The formation is akin to the noun πόσις (drinking, drink), but denotes a specific event rather than the action or substance.
Historical & Contextual Notes
πότος appears in classical and Hellenistic Greek as a standard term for a drinking-party, particularly of the type known as a symposium, indicating both organized social banquets and more unruly gatherings. In literary use, it can convey conviviality or, less commonly, excess. In the Koine period, it remains relatively rare, with more common terms for 'banquet' or 'feast' such as δεῖπνον or ἑστίασις generally used for broader meal contexts. In contrast, πότος specifically highlights the element of drinking rather than eating. In Septuagint and New Testament usage, it is rare, and the term 'banqueting' in English translations may not fully capture the social and sometimes indulgent aspect of the word. Closely related to the verb πίνω (to drink), but differs from terms like μέθη (drunkenness), which emphasize the resulting state rather than the event. Not to be confused with general words for meal or feast, as πότος implies a focus on wine or intoxicant consumption as a central feature of the gathering.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from the alternate of πίνω; a drinking-bout or carousal:--banqueting.
Root Family
πότος (potos) — drinking, drinking-session, drinking-gathering
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4224-01 |
πότοις | potois | N DAT M PL |
banquetings | to drinking-gatherings | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4224-01 |
1 Peter 4:3 | πότοις | potois | N DAT M PL |
banquetings | to drinking-gatherings |