Charis (name)

Summary

Charis (Greek: Χάρις) is a given name derived from a Greek word meaning "grace, kindness, and life." It is a unisex name, overwhelmingly used for men in Greece and overwhelmingly used for women elsewhere in the world.

Charis
Pronunciation/ˈkrɪs/
Origin
Word/nameAncient Greek
Meaning"one of the Graces", "grace" or "kindness"
Other names
Related namesCharissa (English variant), Haris (Greek variant transcription)

In Greek mythology, a Charis is one of the Charites (Greek: Χάριτες) or "Graces", goddesses of charm, beauty, nature, human creativity and fertility; and in Homer's Iliad, Charis is the wife of Hephaestus.[1] Charis was also known as Cale ("Beauty") or Aglaea ("Splendor").[2]

Charis is also the Spartan name of a Grace.

In the Greek and Hebrew biblical term Charis (χάρις) refers to good will, loving-kindness, favour, in particular to God's merciful grace.[3] It is used over 140 times [4] in the New Testament and is a central concept in the theology developed by St. Augustine of Hippo.[5]

It is used in the descriptive epithet of many plant genera and species.[6] Including; Ammocharis (meaning sand and beauty),[7] Eleocharis (meaning marsh and beauty), Englerocharis, Eucharis (meaning good and beauty), Hydrocharis (meaning water and beauty), Nomocharis, Argostemma phyllocharis (meaning leaf and beauty) and Pimelea ammocharis.

Notable people edit

See also edit

  • All pages with titles beginning with Charis
  • All pages with titles containing Charis
  • Charisma
  • Charls

References edit

  1. ^ Bernhardt, Peter (2008). Gods and goddesses in the garden: Greco-Roman mythology and the scientific names of plants. Rutgers University Press. p. 76. ISBN 978-0-8135-4266-9.
  2. ^ Theoi.com: Kharis Algaia
  3. ^ Arichea, Daniel C. (1978). "Translating "Grace" (Charis) in the New Testament". The Bible Translator. 29 (2): 201–206. doi:10.1177/026009437802900201. S2CID 171579281.
  4. ^ "Charis Meaning in Bible - New Testament Greek Lexicon - New American Standard".
  5. ^ "God's Grace in Augustine's Theology". 6 March 2007.
  6. ^ Gledhill, David (2008). The Names of Plants. New York, New York: Cambridge University Press. p. 100. ISBN 9780521866453.
  7. ^ Herbert, William (1821). "An Appendix: Preliminary Treatise (pp. 1–14) and A Treatise &c. (pp. 15–52)". The Botanical Register. 7. Piccadilly, London: James Ridgway and Sherwood, Neely, and Sons.
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