φέγγος

Ancient Greek

Etymology

Of unknown origin. Traditionally compared with Lithuanian spingiù (“to glitter”), as well as with Old High German funko (“spark”), but this suggestion is impossible in view of the initial stops. Other theories taking the word as a contamination of an unattested *σπέγγος (*spéngos) and φάος (pháos, “light”) are farfetched.^[1]

Pronunciation

(5^th BCE Attic) IPA^(key): /pʰéŋ.ɡos/
(1^st CE Egyptian) IPA^(key): /ˈpʰeŋ.ɡos/
(4^th CE Koine) IPA^(key): /ˈɸeŋ.ɡos/
(10^th CE Byzantine) IPA^(key): /ˈfeŋ.ɡos/
(15^th CE Constantinopolitan) IPA^(key): /ˈfeŋ.ɡos/

Noun

φέγγος • (phéngos) n (genitive φέγγεος or φέγγους); third declension

light, splendour, lustre
moonlight
Antonym: φάος (pháos)
light of torches or fire
light of the eyes
(figuratively) delight, glory, pride

Inflection

Third declension of τὸ φέγγος; τοῦ φέγγους (Attic)

Case / #	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	τὸ φέγγος tò phéngos	τὼ φέγγει tṑ phéngei	τᾰ̀ φέγγη tằ phéngē
Genitive	τοῦ φέγγους toû phéngous	τοῖν φεγγοῖν toîn phengoîn	τῶν φεγγῶν tôn phengôn
Dative	τῷ φέγγει tōî phéngei	τοῖν φεγγοῖν toîn phengoîn	τοῖς φέγγεσῐ / φέγγεσῐν toîs phéngesĭ(n)
Accusative	τὸ φέγγος tò phéngos	τὼ φέγγει tṑ phéngei	τᾰ̀ φέγγη tằ phéngē
Vocative	φέγγος phéngos	φέγγει phéngei	φέγγη phéngē
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For declension in other dialects, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal declension.

Derived terms

λαμπαδοφεγγέω (lampadophengéō)
φεγγαῖον (phengaîon)
φεγγίτης (phengítēs)
φεγγοβολέω (phengoboléō)
φέγγω (phéngō)
χρυσοφεγγής (khrusophengḗs)

Descendants

Italiot Greek: fengo
Pontic Greek: φέγγος (féngos)

References

^ Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010) “φέγγος”, in Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 10), with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, pages 1559-60