κνίζω

Ancient Greek

Etymology

The basis is κνιδ-, κνισ- (knid-, knis-), which points to a root that seems to be found in Baltic and Germanic verbs, like Latvian knidêt (to itch, geminate, creep), Old Norse hníta (to push against), Middle Irish cned (wound), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kneyd-, from *ken- (to scratch; scrape; rub). A root-final -t- is found as well, like in Lithuanian kni̇̀sti (to scratch, itch, tickle); a root-final -s- occurs in Lithuanian knisù (to grub up).

Pronunciation

 

Verb

κνῐ́ζω • (knĭ́zō)

  1. to scratch, gash
    Synonym: κνήθω (knḗthō)
  2. to pound, chop up or grate
  3. to tickle, titillate
    Synonym: γᾰργᾰλῐ́ζω (gărgălĭ́zō)
  4. (of feelings) to chafe, tease, provoke

Inflection

Derived terms

  • ἀποκνῐ́ζω (apoknĭ́zō)
  • δῐᾰκνῐ́ζω (dĭăknĭ́zō)
  • ἐπῐκνῐ́ζω (epĭknĭ́zō)
  • κᾰτᾰκνῐ́ζω (kătăknĭ́zō)
  • κνῐ́ζᾰ (knĭ́ză)
  • κνῐ́ς (knĭ́s)
  • κνῐ́σμᾰ (knĭ́smă)
  • κνῐσμός (knĭsmós)
  • ὑποκνῐ́ζω (hupoknĭ́zō)
  • φῐλόκνῐσος (phĭlóknĭsos)

Further reading