λάμπη

Ancient Greek

Alternative forms

λάπη (lápē), λαπτής (laptḗs)

Etymology

The connection with λάμπω (lámpō, “to lighten, glow”) does not explain the forms without nasal, which would suggest Pre-Greek origin; see also λέμφος (lémphos, “snot”), which is likely related.^[1] On the other hand, Furnée prefers connecting the word to Georgian ლოპო (loṗo, “sap, slime”) and its variants.

Pronunciation

(5^th BCE Attic) IPA^(key): /lám.pɛː/
(1^st CE Egyptian) IPA^(key): /ˈlam.pe̝/
(4^th CE Koine) IPA^(key): /ˈlam.pi/
(10^th CE Byzantine) IPA^(key): /ˈlam.pi/
(15^th CE Constantinopolitan) IPA^(key): /ˈlam.bi/

Noun

λᾰ́μπη • (lắmpē) f (genitive λᾰ́μπης); first declension

scum, foam which forms on the surface of wine, or other liquids left to stand
(figuratively) filth, decay (of the underworld)

Inflection

First declension of ἡ λᾰ́μπη; τῆς λᾰ́μπης (Attic)

Case / #	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	ἡ λᾰ́μπη hē lắmpē	τὼ λᾰ́μπᾱ tṑ lắmpā	αἱ λᾰ́μπαι hai lắmpai
Genitive	τῆς λᾰ́μπης tês lắmpēs	τοῖν λᾰ́μπαιν toîn lắmpain	τῶν λᾰμπῶν tôn lămpôn
Dative	τῇ λᾰ́μπῃ tēî lắmpēi	τοῖν λᾰ́μπαιν toîn lắmpain	ταῖς λᾰ́μπαις taîs lắmpais
Accusative	τὴν λᾰ́μπην tḕn lắmpēn	τὼ λᾰ́μπᾱ tṑ lắmpā	τᾱ̀ς λᾰ́μπᾱς tā̀s lắmpās
Vocative	λᾰ́μπη lắmpē	λᾰ́μπᾱ lắmpā	λᾰ́μπαι lắmpai
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For declension in other dialects, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal declension.

Derived terms

λαμπηρός (lampērós)
λαμπώδης (lampṓdēs)

References

^ Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010) “λάμπη”, in Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 10), with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, page 829