κλάω

Ancient Greek

Etymology 1

Traditionally derived from Proto-Indo-European *kelh₂- (to beat, break), whence also Latin percellō (to beat down, overturn), but due to phonetic difficulties, Beekes prefers to take the verb as Pre-Greek.[1]

Pronunciation

 

Verb

κλᾰ́ω • (klắō)

  1. to break, to break off, to break into pieces
  2. (of geometric lines, passive voice) to be broken or deflected
  3. to break, to weaken, to frustrate
Inflection
Derived terms
Descendants
  • Greek: κλάνω (kláno, to fart)

Etymology 2

Attic form of κλαίω (klaíō, weep). Root of κλαϝ- (klaw-).

Pronunciation

 

Verb

κλᾱ́ω • (klā́ō) (Attic) of κλαίω (klaíō)

  1. first-person singular present active indicative/subjunctive of κλᾱ́ω (klā́ō),
Conjugation

References

  1. ^ Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010) “κλᾰ́ω”, in Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 10), with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, pages 710-1

Further reading