Khrēsis
/ˈkriː.sɪs/noun
A rare English loanword or transliteration meaning use, employment, or practical application.
Did you know?Khrēsis comes from the ancient Greek verb meaning “to use” or “to employ,” the same linguistic family behind words for useful things, wealth, and practical knowledge.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gher-
“A reconstructed root associated by scholars with desiring, favoring, or taking pleasure; its connection to Greek usage vocabulary is traditionally proposed but not completely certain.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
χράομαι (chráomai)
“To use, employ, consult, or make use of.”
Classical Greek
Greek
χρῆσθαι (chrêsthai)
“The infinitive “to use”; it could also mean to consult an oracle or receive a divine response.”
Classical Greek
Greek
χρῆσις (chrêsis)
“Use, employment, application, or the act of consulting an oracle.”
Late Greek and Latin
Greek/Latin
chresis
“A learned transliteration adopted in scholarly and rhetorical terminology for use or application.”
Modern English
English
chresis / khrēsis
“A rare learned term meaning use, application, or employment.”
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