σαίρω

Ancient Greek

Etymology

According to Beekes, perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *twer- (to stir), like Sanskrit त्वर् (tvar, to hurry) and Proto-Germanic *þweraną (to stir). Connection with ὀτρύνω (otrúnō, to stir up, encourage) is highly improbable, as it is unclear whether the initial ὀ- (o-) is a prefix. See also σύρω (súrō, to drag, draw), with which the word is often connected.[1]

Pronunciation

 

Verb

σαίρω • (saírō)

  1. (transitive) to sweep, clean
  2. (figuratively) to clear away

Inflection

Derived terms

References

  1. ^ Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010), “σαίρω 1”, in Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 10), with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, page 1301

Further reading