σπινθήρ

Ancient Greek

Alternative forms

σπῐ́νθρᾰξ (spĭ́nthrăx)

Etymology

The formation is similar to ἀστήρ (astḗr, “star”) and αἰθήρ (aithḗr, “ether”). Reminiscent of Lithuanian spindžiù (“to gleam”), Latvian spīdēt (“to gleam, beam”) and spuôdrs (“white, gleaming”), but formally impossible to connect. Niedermann connected this word to Latin scintilla (“spark”), suggesting a Mediterranean loan, while Beekes argues for a Pre-Greek origin.

Pronunciation

(5^th BCE Attic) IPA^(key): /spin.tʰɛ̌ːr/
(1^st CE Egyptian) IPA^(key): /spinˈtʰe̝r/
(4^th CE Koine) IPA^(key): /spinˈθir/
(10^th CE Byzantine) IPA^(key): /spinˈθir/
(15^th CE Constantinopolitan) IPA^(key): /spinˈθir/

Noun

σπῐνθήρ • (spĭnthḗr) m (genitive σπῐνθῆρος); third declension

spark

Declension

Third declension of ὁ σπῐνθήρ; τοῦ σπῐνθῆρος (Attic)

Case / #	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	ὁ σπῐνθήρ ho spĭnthḗr	τὼ σπῐνθῆρε tṑ spĭnthêre	οἱ σπῐνθῆρες hoi spĭnthêres
Genitive	τοῦ σπῐνθῆρος toû spĭnthêros	τοῖν σπῐνθήροιν toîn spĭnthḗroin	τῶν σπῐνθήρων tôn spĭnthḗrōn
Dative	τῷ σπῐνθῆρῐ tōî spĭnthêrĭ	τοῖν σπῐνθήροιν toîn spĭnthḗroin	τοῖς σπῐνθῆρσῐ / σπῐνθῆρσῐν toîs spĭnthêrsĭ(n)
Accusative	τὸν σπῐνθῆρᾰ tòn spĭnthêră	τὼ σπῐνθῆρε tṑ spĭnthêre	τοὺς σπῐνθῆρᾰς toùs spĭnthêrăs
Vocative	σπῐνθήρ spĭnthḗr	σπῐνθῆρε spĭnthêre	σπῐνθῆρες spĭnthêres
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For declension in other dialects, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal declension.

Derived terms

σπῐνθᾰρῐ́ς (spĭnthărĭ́s)
σπῐνθηρῐ́ζω (spĭnthērĭ́zō)
σπῐνθηροβολέω (spĭnthēroboléō)
σπῐνθηροειδής (spĭnthēroeidḗs)

Descendants

Greek: σπινθήρας (spinthíras)
Translingual: Spinther (genus of worms)