σπέος

Ancient Greek

Alternative forms

  • σπεῖος (speîos)

Etymology

According to Beekes, the word is undoubtedly from Pre-Greek.

Pronunciation

 

Noun

σπέος • (spéosn (genitive σπείους); third declension

  1. (Epic) cave, cavern, grotto
    • 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Odyssey 1.13–15:
      τὸν δ’ οἶον, νόστου κεχρημένον ἠδὲ γυναικός,
      νύμφη πότνι’ ἔρῡκε Καλυψώ, δῖα θεᾱ́ων,
      ἐν σπέσσι γλαφυροῖσι, λιλαιομένη πόσιν εἶναι.
      tòn d’ oîon, nóstou kekhrēménon ēdè gunaikós,
      númphē pótni’ érūke Kalupsṓ, dîa theā́ōn,
      en spéssi glaphuroîsi, lilaioménē pósin eînai.
      [Odysseus] alone, longing for homecoming and his wife,
      the revered nymph Calypso, brightest of goddesses, detained
      in hollow caves, longing for him to be her husband.

Inflection

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References