άκανθα

See also: ἄκανθα

Greek

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek ἄκανθα f (ákantha). Sense for achitecture, semantic loan from French acanthe < Latin acanthus from Ancient Greek ἄκανθος m (ákanthos) for which also see άκανθος m (ákanthos). Also see αγκάθι n (agkáthi, “thorn”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈa.kan.θa/
• Hyphenation: ά‧καν‧θα

Noun

άκανθα • (ákantha) f (plural άκανθες)

1. (literary, formal) formal of αγκάθι (agkáthi): thorn
2. (figuratively) obstacle
3. (anatomy) sharp boney projection
4. (archaeology, architecture) acanthus-like adornment (in Corinthian style)

   Synonym: άκανθος m (ákanthos)

Declension

Declension of άκανθα

	singular	plural
nominative	άκανθα •	άκανθες •
genitive	άκανθας •	ακανθών •
accusative	άκανθα •	άκανθες •
vocative	άκανθα •	άκανθες •

Synonyms

• (thorn): αγκάθι n (agkáthi)
• (architectural term): άκανθος f (ákanthos)

Related terms

• ακανθώδης (akanthódis, “prickly, thorny”)
• ακάνθινος (akánthinos, “made of thorns”)

• and see: αγκάθι n (agkáthi, “thogn”)

From the same root: άγκυρα f (ágkyra, “anchor”), αγκώνας m (agkónas, “elbow”), άγκιστρο n (ágkistro, “hook”) & see Proto-Indo-European root *h₂enk-

Further reading

• άκανθα - Georgakas, Demetrius, 1908-1990 (1960-2009) A Modern Greek-English Dictionary [MGED online, 2009. letter α only], Centre for the Greek language
• “άκανθα”, in Λεξικό της κοινής νεοελληνικής [Dictionary of Standard Modern Greek], Triantafyllidis Foundation, 1998