περίχρισις

Ancient Greek

Etymology

From περι- (peri-, “around”) +‎ χρῖσις (khrîsis, “anointing”), from χρῑ́ω (khrī́ō, “to rub, smear, anoint”).

Pronunciation

(5^th BCE Attic) IPA^(key): /pe.rí.kʰriː.sis/
(1^st CE Egyptian) IPA^(key): /peˈri.kʰri.sis/
(4^th CE Koine) IPA^(key): /peˈri.xri.sis/
(10^th CE Byzantine) IPA^(key): /peˈri.xri.sis/
(15^th CE Constantinopolitan) IPA^(key): /peˈri.xri.sis/

Noun

περίχρῑσῐς • (períkhrīsĭs) f (genitive περιχρῑ́σεως); third declension

(medicine) anointing, application of a substance all around or over a surface
- AD 40–90, Dioscorides, 1 99:
  ἀποτίθεσθαι εἰς τὰς ὀφθαλμικὰς περιχρίσεις
  apotíthesthai eis tàs ophthalmikàs perikhríseis
  to store for eye anointings
(technical) coating, smearing over completely
- Alchim., 426 16:
  περίχρισις
  períkhrisis
  coating over
- Tzetz., Ar. 2.411.11:
  περίχρισις
  períkhrisis
  smearing all around

Usage notes

The noun περίχρῑσις (períkhrīsis) denotes the act or process of applying a substance all around or over a surface, especially in medical and technical contexts. It contrasts with περίχρῑσμα (períkhrīsma), which refers to the substance applied, not the act itself.

Related terms

ἔγχρῑσις (énkhrīsis)
ἐπίχρῑσις (epíkhrīsis)
περίχρῑσμα (períkhrīsma)
περίχρῑστος (períkhrīstos)
περιχρῑ́ω (perikhrī́ō)
χρῖσις (khrîsis)

References

“περίχρισις”, in Liddell & Scott (1940), A Greek–English Lexicon, Oxford: Clarendon Press
περίχρισις in Trapp, Erich, et al. (1994–2007), Lexikon zur byzantinischen Gräzität besonders des 9.-12. Jahrhunderts [the Lexicon of Byzantine Hellenism, Particularly the 9th–12th Centuries], Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften