γλωσσοποιέω

Ancient Greek

Etymology

From γλῶσσα (glôssa, “tongue”) + ποιέω (poiéō, “to make, fashion”).

Pronunciation

(5^th BCE Attic) IPA^(key): /ɡlɔːs.so.poi̯.é.ɔː/
(1^st CE Egyptian) IPA^(key): /ɡlos.so.pyˈe.o/
(4^th CE Koine) IPA^(key): /ɣlos.so.pyˈe.o/
(10^th CE Byzantine) IPA^(key): /ɣlos.so.pyˈe.o/
(15^th CE Constantinopolitan) IPA^(key): /ɣlo.so.piˈe.o/

Verb

γλωσσοποιέω • (glōssopoiéō)

to form or fashion into tongues; to make tongue-shaped
- 1115 – 1195, Eustathius Thessalonicensis, Thess. Pent..1.56:
  τὸ μὲν οἷς ἐξέπληττε γλωσσοποιούμενον τὸ μὴ πεφυκὸς οὕτω μεταπλάττεσθαι
  tò mèn hoîs exéplētte glōssopoioúmenon tò mḕ pephukòs hoútō metapláttesthai
  that which amazed them was the fact that what was not naturally so was being formed into tongues.

Usage notes

The verb γλωσσοποιέω (glōssopoiéō) is rare and is used in a literal or metaphorical sense meaning “to form into tongues” or “to make tongue-shaped.”
In Eustathius of Thessalonica, the participle refers metaphorically to flames shaped like tongues (Pentecostal imagery).
Despite formal similarity, this verb is not related in meaning to γλωττοποιέω (glōttopoiéō), which denotes obscene acts involving the tongue.

Derived terms

γλωσσοποιός (glōssopoiós)
γλωσσοποιΐα (glōssopoiḯa)

Related terms

γλῶσσα (glôssa)
ποιέω (poiéō)
γλωττοποιέω (glōttopoiéō) (formally similar but semantically unrelated)

References

Eustathius of Thessalonica, "Exegesis in canonem iambicum pentecostalem" 1.56