περιχρίω

Ancient Greek

Etymology

From περι- (peri-, around) +‎ χρῑ́ω (khrī́ō, to rub, smear, anoint).

Pronunciation

 

Verb

περιχρῑ́ω • (perikhrī́ō)

  1. to smear or cover over; to coat all around
    • 64 BCE – 24 CE, Strabo, 17 3.11:
      κλινόποδας σκορόδοις περιχρίει
      klinópodas skoródois perikhríei
      he smears the couch-legs with garlic
    • Archig., ap. Gal..12.873:
      τοὺς ὀδόντας περιχρίει
      toùs odóntas perikhríei
      he coats the teeth
    • 125 CE – 200 CE, Lucian, On Mourning 21:
      τι περιχρίσας ὑάλῳ
      ti perikhrísas huálōi
      having coated something with glass
    • ante 177 CE, Pollux, 5 102:
      τὸ πρόσωπον περιχρίει
      tò prósōpon perikhríei
      he smears the face
  2. (medicine) to apply a substance externally; to anoint or salve
    • AD 40–90, Dioscorides, 1 77:
      περιεχρίσθη
      periekhrísthē
      it was smeared over
  3. to pour or spread as an unguent over
    • Jos., AJ 7.14.5:
      ἔλαιον περιχρίει
      élaion perikhríei
      he pours oil over
  4. (figurative) to affect or influence thoroughly
    • 110 BCE – 35 BCE, Philodemus, On Music 97.K.:
      περιεχρίσθη
      periekhrísthē
      it was thoroughly “coated” (figuratively)

Conjugation

Derived terms

Further reading