ἀλέκτωρ

Ancient Greek

FWOTD – 28 August 2021

Pronunciation

 

Etymology 1

From ᾰ̓λέξω (ăléxō, I ward off) +‎ -τωρ (-tōr, -er).

Noun

ᾰ̓λέκτωρ • (ăléktōrm (genitive ᾰ̓λέκτορος); third declension

  1. cock, rooster
    • 458 BCE, Aeschylus, Agamemnon 1671:
      Κόμπασον θαρσῶν, ἀλέκτωρ ὥστε θηλείας πέλας.
      Kómpason tharsôn, aléktōr hṓste thēleías pélas.
      Brag in your bravery like a cock beside his hen.
Inflection
Synonyms
Derived terms
  • ἀλεκτόρειος (alektóreios)
  • ἀλεκτοριδεύς (alektorideús)
  • ἀλεκτόριον (alektórion)
  • ἀλεκτορίς (alektorís)
  • ἀλεκτορίσκος (alektorískos)
  • ἀλέκτορον (aléktoron)
  • ἀλέκτορος λόφος (aléktoros lóphos)
  • ἀλεκτοροφωνία (alektorophōnía)
  • ἀλεκτρυών (alektruṓn)
  • γυπαλέκτωρ (gupaléktōr)
Descendants
  • Byzantine Greek: ἀλεκτόριν (alektórin)
  • Coptic: ⲁⲗⲉⲕⲧⲱⲣ (alektōr)

Etymology 2

From ᾰ̓ (ă, together) +‎ λέχομαι (lékhomai, I lie) +‎ -τωρ (-tōr, -er).

Noun

ᾰ̓λέκτωρ • (ăléktōrm (genitive ᾰ̓λέκτορος); third declension

  1. husband, consort
    • Tz., ad Lyc. 1094

Etymology 3

From ᾰ̓- (ă-, not) +‎ λέχομαι (lékhomai, I lay) +‎ -τωρ (-tōr, -er).

Adjective

ᾰ̓λέκτωρ • (ăléktōrm or f (neuter ᾰ̓́λεκτορ); third declension

  1. (hapax legomenon) unwedded
    • 250 CE – 350 CE, Athenaeus, Deipnosophistae 3.53:
      ἔφη ’γενέθλιός ἐστι τῆς ἀλέκτορος Ἀθηνᾶς καὶ ἄδικος ἡ τῆτες ἡμέρα.'
      éphē ’genéthliós esti tês aléktoros Athēnâs kaì ádikos hē têtes hēméra.’
      He said, "This is the birthday of the unwedded goddess Minerva, and this day is unjust."
Inflection
Synonyms
  • ᾰ̓́λεκτρος (ắlektros)

Further reading