ἀποστηθίζω

Ancient Greek

Etymology

From the phrase ᾰ̓πὸ στήθους (ăpò stḗthous, by heart) (ᾰ̓πό (from) the στῆθος (breast)) + -ῐ́ζω.

Pronunciation

 

Verb

ᾰ̓πoστηθῐ́ζω • (ăpostēthĭ́zō) (Koine, Byzantine)

  1. to know from memory, repeat by heart
    • Οὐ γάρ ἐστι ταὐτὸν ἐς πλῆθος ἀποστηθίζειν καὶ γράφειν ἐς κάλλος.
      Ou gár esti tautòn es plêthos apostēthízein kaì gráphein es kállos.
      It is not the same thing to repeat by heart a great quantity [of texts] and to be able to write with [rhetoric] quality.
      by Damascius (c.458-p.538) at lemma 'Σαλούστιος' at Suda dictionary.

Inflection

Synonyms

Koine verbs:

  • ἐνστηθίζω (enstēthízō)

ancient verbs:

  • ἐκμᾰνθᾰ́νω (ekmănthắnō) (sense: learn by heart)
  • ἐξεπῐ́στᾰμαι (exepĭ́stămai) (sense: know by heart)
  • ᾰ̓ποστομᾰτῐ́ζω (ăpostomătĭ́zō) (sense: repeat by heart)

Descendants

  • Greek: αποστηθίζω (apostithízo) (learned)

Further reading