σήτα

Greek

Alternative forms

Etymology

Nominal formation probably cognate with, though apparently not derived from, Ancient Greek σήθω (sḗthō, to sieve, sift)[1] (which would render a modern neuter noun *σήστρο; compare Hesychius' plural σῆστρα n (sêstra) of σῆστρον (sêstron)) under folk-etymological influence of the ancient σητάνιος / σητάνειος (sētánios / sētáneios, of this year; this year's sieved wheat), a form surviving in some modern Greek dialects, as the South Italiot Greek.[2][3]

Τhe theory taking the word as borrowed from Slavic (Proto-Slavic *sìto (sieve)) is considered improbable.[2]

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈsi.ta/
  • Hyphenation: σήτα
  • Homophone: σίτα (síta) [4]

Noun

σήτα • (sítaf (plural σήτες)

  1. sieve (a tool with a fine mesh used to sift flour, sand, etc.)
    Synonyms: κρησάρα (krisára) (demotic), κόσκινο (kóskino)
  2. window screen (a mesh set in a frame used to keep foreign debris and insects out of a room without blocking fresh airflow)

Declension

Declension of σήτα
singular plural
nominative σήτα (síta) σήτες (sítes)
genitive σήτας (sítas) σητών (sitón)
accusative σήτα (síta) σήτες (sítes)
vocative σήτα (síta) σήτες (sítes)

References

  1. ^ σήτα, in Λεξικό της κοινής νεοελληνικής [Dictionary of Standard Modern Greek], Triantafyllidis Foundation, 1998 at the Centre for the Greek language
  2. 2.0 2.1 σήτα - Babiniotis, Georgios (2010), Ετυμολογικό λεξικό της νέας ελληνικής γλώσσας Etymologikó lexikó tis néas ellinikís glóssas [Etymological Dictionary of Modern Greek language] (in Greek), Athens: Lexicology Centre
  3. ^ σῆτες, σητάνειος, in ΛΟΓΕΙΟΝ [Logeion] Dictionaries for Ancient Greek and Latin (in English, French, Spanish, German, Dutch and Chinese), University of Chicago, since 2011
  4. ^ σήτα - Charalambakis, Chistoforos et al. (2014) Χρηστικό λεξικό της νεοελληνικής γλώσσας (Christikó lexikó tis neoellenikís glóssas) [A Practical Dictionary of Modern Greek] (in Greek) Athens: Academy of Athens. (online since 2023 - abbreviations - symbols)