λιγοστός
Greek
Etymology
From Medieval Byzantine Greek λιγοστός or ὀλιγοστός from the ancient Ancient Greek ὀλιγοστός (oligostós), with omission of <ο>, percieved as an article (ὁ).[1]. Also see λίγος (lígos).
Pronunciation
Adjective
λιγοστός • (ligostós) m (feminine λιγοστή, neuter λιγοστό)
- scarce, meagre, short
- 1942 (composed), Seferis, Giorgos Ημερολόγιο Καταστρώματος, Β΄. Ένας γέροντας στην ακροποταμιά [Logbook II. From poem: An old man at the riverbank] (bilngual @books.google Translated by Edmund Keeley, Philip Sherrard) retr:2018.09.20. :
- κι είναι καιρός να πούμε τα λιγοστά μας λόγια γιατί η ψυχή μας αύριο κάνει πανιά.
- ki eínai kairós na poúme ta ligostá mas lógia giatí i psychí mas ávrio kánei paniá.
- and it's time to say our few words because tomorrow our soul sets sail.
- κι είναι καιρός να πούμε τα λιγοστά μας λόγια γιατί η ψυχή μας αύριο κάνει πανιά.
- Ὢ λιγοστοὶ κι ὢ διαλεχτοὶ κι ἀρίφνητοι αὔριο ἴσως!
- Ṑ ligostoì ki ṑ dialekhtoì ki aríphnētoi aúrio ísōs!
- O you the few, the chosen you, or countless of tomorrow!
- 1900-1904 (composed) Kostis Palamas Ασάλευτη ζωή [from poem: The Motionless Life.] (@greek-language.gr (in Greek) retr:2018.09.20.
- Λίγα ήταν τα χρήματά του, λιγοστό το φαΐ, πενιχρό το γεύμα του.
- Líga ítan ta chrímatá tou, ligostó to faḯ, penichró to gévma tou.
- His money was little, the food was few, poor was his meal.
Usage notes
The difference of λιγοστός and the synonym λίγος is stylistic. λίγος is the common word for 'few'; λιγοστός is used less frequently, stressing scarceness, in a more poetic way. Compare to the Shakespearean We happy few. Synonym πενιχρός (penichrós) stresses the lack, the poor condition.
Declension
For degrees of comparions. see λίγος.
Declension of λιγοστός
number case \ gender |
singular | plural | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
masculine | feminine | neuter | masculine | feminine | neuter | |
nominative | λιγοστός • | λιγοστή • | λιγοστό • | λιγοστοί • | λιγοστές • | λιγοστά • |
genitive | λιγοστού • | λιγοστής • | λιγοστού • | λιγοστών • | λιγοστών • | λιγοστών • |
accusative | λιγοστό • | λιγοστή • | λιγοστό • | λιγοστούς • | λιγοστές • | λιγοστά • |
vocative | λιγοστέ • | λιγοστή • | λιγοστό • | λιγοστοί • | λιγοστές • | λιγοστά • |
derivations | Comparative: πιο + positive forms (e.g. πιο λιγοστός, etc.) Relative superlative: definite article + πιο + positive forms (e.g. ο πιο λιγοστός, etc.) |
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related terms
See also
- απότομος (apótomos, “short conversationally”)
- κοντός (kontós, “short in height”)
- μικρός (mikrós, “short in length”)
- σύντομος (sýntomos, “short in time”)
References
- ^ λιγοστός, in Λεξικό της κοινής νεοελληνικής [Dictionary of Standard Modern Greek], Triantafyllidis Foundation, 1998 at the Centre for the Greek language
Categories:
- Greek terms inherited from Byzantine Greek
- Greek terms derived from Byzantine Greek
- Greek terms derived from Ancient Greek
- Ancient Greek links with manual fragments
- Greek terms with IPA pronunciation
- Greek lemmas
- Greek adjectives
- Greek terms with quotations
- Greek terms with usage examples
- Greek adjectives in declension ός-ή-ό