Plato in Cratylus connects the name with  (), "redemption", with  (apolousis), "purification", and with  (), "simple", in particular in reference to the Thessalian form of the name, , and finally with  (), "ever-shooting".
plˈɑːɾoʊ ɪn kɹˈæɾɪləs kənˈɛkts ðə nˈeɪm wɪð, "ɹᵻdˈɛmpʃən", wɪð ɐpˈɑːlaʊsiz, "pjˌʊɹɹɪfɪkˈeɪʃən", ænd wɪð, "sˈɪmpəl", ɪn pɚtˈɪkjʊlɚɹ ɪn ɹˈɛfɹəns tə ðə θɛsˈeɪliən fˈɔːɹm ʌvðə nˈeɪm, , ænd fˈaɪnəli wɪð, "ˈɛvɚʃˈuːɾɪŋ".