σαράντα

Greek

Etymology

From Byzantine Greek σαράντα (saránta), from Ancient Greek τεσσαράκοντα (tessarákonta). The first three letters were mistaken for the article τὲς (tès, “feminine accusative plural, 'the'”) in Medieval times, hence the loss. The memorial service is derived from the belief that Jesus Christ was resurrected for that period of time before ascending to Heaven.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /saˈɾanda/

Numeral

σαράντα • (saránta)

1. forty

Related terms

• τεσσαρακοστός (tessarakostós, “fortieth”) (ordinal)

Noun

σαράντα • (saránta) n pl (indeclinable)

1. Orthodox memorial service in the fortieth day

See also

• Greek number and measurement
• εννιάμερα (enniámera)
• εξάμηνα (exámina)
• σαραντίζω (sarantízo)
• τριήμερα (triímera)
• τρίμηνα (trímina)

References

• σαράντα, in Λεξικό της κοινής νεοελληνικής [Dictionary of Standard Modern Greek], Triantafyllidis Foundation, 1998 at the Centre for the Greek language