ἐφιάλτης

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Ancient Greek[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

Etymology[edit]

No certain etymology. Historically connected with ἐφάλλομαι (ephállomai, to throw oneself onto somebody), but this explanation is considered folk etymological by Beekes. Leumann sustained that this word is related to ἠπίαλος (ēpíalos, ague, fever); if that's the case, then the word could be of Pre-Greek origin.

Pronunciation[edit]

 

Noun[edit]

ἐφῐάλτης (ephiáltēsm (genitive ἐφῐάλτου); first declension

  1. nightmare, conceived as a throttling demon

Inflection[edit]

Derived terms[edit]

Descendants[edit]

  • Greek: εφιάλτης (efiáltis)

Further reading[edit]