σφάζω

Ancient Greek

Alternative forms

  • σφᾰ́δδω (sphắddō)Boeotian
  • σφᾰ́ττω (sphắttō)

Etymology

Of unknown origin, with no known cognates outside Greek. Furnée connects φάσγανον (phásganon, sword) as φασγ-/σφαγ-, suggesting a Pre-Greek origin.[1] The relation with Old Armenian սպանանեմ (spananem, to slay), if any, is unclear and would have to be via borrowing from a common source.[2]

Pronunciation

 

Verb

σφᾰ́ζω • (sphắzō)

  1. to slay, slaughter, cut the throat
  2. to slaughter victims for sacrifice
  3. (in general) to slay, kill, assassinate

Inflection

Derived terms

  • ἀποσφᾰ́ζω (aposphắzō)
  • δῐᾰσφᾰ́ζω (dĭăsphắzō)
  • ἐπῐσφᾰ́ζω (epĭsphắzō)
  • κᾰτᾰσφᾰ́ζω (kătăsphắzō)
  • προσφᾰ́ζω (prosphắzō)
  • σφᾰγεῖον (sphăgeîon)
  • σφᾰγεύς (sphăgeús)
  • σφᾰγή (sphăgḗ)
  • σφᾰ́γῐον (sphắgĭon)
  • σφᾰ́γῐος (sphắgĭos)
  • σφᾰγῐ́ς (sphăgĭ́s)
  • σφᾰγῐστήρῐον (sphăgĭstḗrĭon)
  • σφᾰγῖτῐς (sphăgîtĭs)
  • σφᾰ́γμᾰ (sphắgmă)

References

  1. ^ Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010) “σφάζω”, in Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 10), with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, pages 1426-7
  2. ^ Ačaṙean, Hračʻeay (1971–1979) “սպանանեմ”, in Hayerēn armatakan baṙaran [Armenian Etymological Dictionary] (in Armenian), 2nd edition, a reprint of the original 1926–1935 seven-volume edition, Yerevan: University Press

Further reading