λίθος

Ancient Greek

Etymology

Has been compared to λεῖος (leîos, “smooth”), λιτός (litós, “simple, plain”), Latin laedō (“to strike, hurt”), and Lithuanian slidùs. Beekes argues for a Pre-Greek origin, noting that words for "stone" are often taken from a substrate language.

Pronunciation

• (5th BC Attic): IPA: /lítʰos/

• (1st BC Egyptian): IPA: /lítʰos/

• (4th AD Koine): IPA: /líθos/

• (10th AD Byzantine): IPA: /líθos/

• (15th AD Constantinopolitan): IPA: /líθos/

Noun

λίθος • (líthos) (genitive λίθου) m, second declension

1. a stone
2. stone as a substance

Usage notes

Λίθος is sometimes used as a feminine noun. This often (but not always) is used to refer to some special stone, such as a gem or magnet.

Inflection

Second declension of λίθος, λίθου

Case / #	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	λίθος	λίθω	λίθοι
Genitive	λίθου	λίθοιν	λίθων
Dative	λίθῳ	λίθοιν	λίθοις
Accusative	λίθον	λίθω	λίθους
Vocative	λίθε	λίθω	λίθοι

Descendants

Descendants of λίθος in other languages

Catalan: liti English: -lite English: aerolite English: coprolite English: datolite English: -lith English: rhinolith English: oolith English: otolith

English: litharge English: lithograph, lithography English: Mesolithic English: regolith French: litharge

References

• LSJ
• Bauer lexicon
• Strong’s concordance number: G3037
• Robert S. P. Beekes (2010) Etymological Dictionary of Greek, Leiden, Boston: Brill Academic Publishers

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Greek

Noun

λίθος • (líthos) m (plural λίθοι)

1. stone (building material)

   θεμέλιος λίθος (foundation stone)

2. (medicine) stone, calculus
3. (archaeology) stone

   εποχή του λίθου (stone age)

Declension

λίθος (líthos)

	singular	plural
nominative	λίθος	λίθοι
genitive	λίθου	λίθων
accusative	λίθο	λίθους
vocative	λίθε	λίθοι

Related terms

• λιθόσφαιρα f (lithósfaira, “lithosphere”)
• λιθογραφία f (lithografía, “lithograph, lithography”)
• λιθόστρωτο n (lithóstroto, “cobblestone”)

See also

• πέτρα f (pétra, “rock”)
• λογισμός m (logismós, “calculus”) (mathematics)