ἔλπος

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Ancient Greek

[edit]

Alternative forms

[edit]

Etymology

[edit]

Unknown. The word has been proposed to descend from Proto-Indo-European *selp- (fat, oil), with cognates such as Sanskrit सर्पिस् (sarpis) and Old English sealf (English salve). However, the lack of the expected rough breathing and the alternation between voiced and voiceless aspirate (seen in the dialectal form ἔλφος (élphos)) suggest that it might be from a Pre-Greek source. Some have argued that the word is related to ὄλπη (ólpē, oil flask), which may or may not affect the proposed Proto-Indo-European origin.

Pronunciation

[edit]
 

Noun

[edit]

ἔλπος (élpos)

  1. (hapax) Hesychius gives the definition as: ἔλαιον (élaion, olive oil), στέαρ (stéar, fat), εὐθηνία (euthēnía, abundance)

References

[edit]