Abarim Publications' online Biblical Greek Dictionary
μενω
The verb μενω (meno) means to stay, and derives from the same ancient Proto-Indo-European root that gave us the words "remain", "maintenance" and even "mansion", and which also left its traces in Latin and Persian. Also note the striking similarity with the noun μην (men) meaning month (from the name of the lunar deity Men), which is identical to μην (men), the particle of strong affirmation, which is a variant of the more common μεν (men), meaning truly or indeed. Also note that the latter is suspiciously similar to the familiar Hebrew term אמן ('amen), which also expresses affirmation.
In the New Testament our verb μενω (meno) mostly expresses a staying or dwelling in the same place (Matthew 10:11, Acts 20:15, 2 Corinthians 3:14). Almost only in the Johannine gospel and epistles occurs the usage of this verb in the sense of remaining or abiding within a teaching or (in that sense) a teacher (John 6:56, 8:31, 1 John 2:6, 2 John 1:9). Sporadically this verb may express a waiting for someone (Acts 20:5).
Our verb is used 120 times in the New Testament, see full concordance, and from it derives:
- This verb only pure derivation is the noun μονη (mone), which describes a "place of remaining", a home (John 14:2 and 14:23 only).
Our verb is also part of a small cast of compound words:
- Together with the preposition ανα (ana), which in this case is emphatic: the verb αναμενω (anameno), meaning to "very remain"; to eagerly wait or expect (1 Thessalonians 1:10 only).
- Together with the preposition δια (dia), meaning through: the verb διαμενω (diameno), meaning to endure; to stay through certain conditions, or to remain unchanged over a period. This verb is used 5 times; see full concordance.
- Together with the preposition εν (en), meaning in, on, at or by: the verb εμμενω (emmeno), meaning to persist or persevere in something (Acts 14:22, Galatians 3:10 and Hebrews 8:9 only).
- Together with the preposition επι (epi) meaning on or upon: the verb επιμενω (epimeno), literally meaning to additionally remain or after a referenced point in time. This verb expresses staying on somewhere (Acts 15:34, 1 Corinthians 16:8, Galatians 1:18) as well as in some mode of behavior or teaching (Romans 6:1, Colossians 1:23, 1 Timothy 4:16). It altogether occurs 18 times; see full concordance.
- Together with the preposition κατα (kata), meaning down (from, in, upon, etc.): the verb καταμενω (katameno), meaning to stay put, or to settle down (Acts 1:13 only).
- Together with the preposition παρα (para), meaning near or nearby: the verb παραμενω (parameno), meaning to stay with someone or by someone's side (1 Corinthians 16:6, Hebrews 7:23 and James 1:25 only). From this verb comes:
- Together with the preposition συν (sun), meaning together or with: the verb συμπαραμενω (sumparameno), meaning to stay collectively together (Philippians 1:25 only).
- Together with the preposition περι (peri), meaning around or about: the verb περιμενω (perimeno), meaning to wait for or on account of a particular thing (Acts 1:4 only).
- Together with the prefix προς (pros), which describes a motion toward: the verb προσμενο (prosmeno), meaning to continue to remain, or to follow, or to keep going at something or someone. This verb is used 6 times; see full concordance.
- Together with the preposition υπο (hupo) meaning under, beneath or through: the verb υπομενω (hupomeno), meaning to remain under, that is: to persevere while burdened or endure a load. It's used 17 times, see full concordance, and from this verb derives:
- The noun υπομονη (hupomone), meaning endurance or patience under circumstances or things. This noun occurs 32 times, see full concordance, but suffering fools or otherwise challenging humans is mostly expressed with the μακροθυμια (makrothumia).