Abarim Publications' online Biblical Greek Dictionary
αυος
The adjective αυος (auos) means dry or withered and in the classics was used to refer to sticks, poles or timber for fire wood, or the dried hide that was stretched over shields. It could be used to indicate that one was literally very thirsty or figuratively entirely exhausted or shivering (from age) like a dry leaf. Our adjective was used in recognizable metaphors from a dry rasping sound to a dry literary style. And one could be financially dry, meaning without money.
Our adjective is thought to stem from the Proto-Indo-European root "hsews-", to be dry. From this same root comes the English word sear. Our adjective does not occur in the New Testament, but from it comes:
- The adjective αυστηρος (austeros), meaning harsh or severe (hence our English word austere). In the classics, this word initially described land that is too dry to sport any flowery elaborations or pleasant bodies of water. From there it came to denote mentalities that likewise reserve no room for adornments or flexibilities. Our word occurs in the New Testament in Luke 19:21 and 19:22 only.
- Together with the noun χθων (chthon), ground or earth or dirt — not used in the New Testament, but see the adverb χαμαι (chamai), to the ground — or so says Robert Beeks (Etymology of Greek): the adjective αυχμος (auchmos), meaning dry or dirty, whence the verb αυχμω (auchmo), to be dry or dirty. In the classics occurs a vast array of variations of these words (which implies a taboo even on pronouncing them), with meanings ranging from parched land due to lack of rain to squalor due to poverty to squalid hair that hasn't been properly washed. In the New Testament occurs only:
- The adjective αυχμηρος (auchmeros), meaning dirty, dry or squalid (2 Peter 1:19 only). Note that in the Hebrew mind, the concept of light was much closer related to water, life and activity than to heat, drought and inactivity. See our article on the verb נהר (nahar), which means both to shine (what a lamp does) and to flow (what a river does).