ἀλφηστής

Ancient Greek

Etymology

Two possible etymologies have been given. Traditionally it was interpreted as a derivative of ἀλφάνω (alphánō, “to produce, to earn”), therefore meaning “industrious”. After the 19th century another interpretation has been given, translating it as “bread eater”, and deriving it from ἄλφι (álphi, “flour”), with the addition of a suffix that means “to eat”.[1]

Noun

ἀλφηστής • (alphēstḗs) m (genitive -ου); first declension

  1. flour eater, bread eater.
  2. that lives by toil.

Declension

  • Noun masc dat pl [epic]: ἀλφηστῇσιν (Hom. Od. 1.349)
  • Noun masc acc pl: ἀλφηστὰς (Hom. Od. 13.261)
  • ἄλφι (álphi, “barley flour”)
  • ἀλφάνω (alphánō, “to produce, to earn”)

References

  1. ^ Chantraine (1968), pp. 66–7

Further reading

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