σπάω

Ancient Greek

Alternative forms

Etymology

García-Ramón suggests that the term is cognate with Vedic Sanskrit पा (, to rise against, be hostile) and Hittite [script needed] (pippa-, to overturn), and reconstructs Proto-Indo-European *(s)peh₂- (to draw, set in motion). The verb σπάω (spáō) may have been built to the aorist ἔσπασα (éspasa), itself perhaps derived from *(s)pḗh₂-st.[1] Alternatively, the LIV suggests that the term could have emerged from a PIE verb *(s)ph₂-yé-ti.[2] Another possibility is that the term continues a PIE form of the shape *(s)ph₂-éye-ti.[1] See also σπᾰ́θη (spắthē, broad blade, spathe), which derive from the same PIE root.[1]

An older theory by Klingenschmitt connects the Greek verb with Old Armenian հանեմ (hanem, to draw or pull out).[1]

Pronunciation

 

Verb

σπᾰ́ω • (spắō)

  1. to draw a sword
  2. (of other things) to draw
  3. (of violent actions) to pluck off or out
  4. to tear, rend, especially of ravenous animals
  5. to wrench, sprain, twist
  6. to snatch, tear or drag away
  7. (figuratively) to carry away, draw aside
  8. to cause convulsion or spasm
  9. to draw in, suck in, involve
  10. to draw tight, pull the reins
  11. to derive

Inflection

Derived terms

Descendants

  • Greek: σπάζω (spázo), σπάω (spáo), σπάνω (spáno)

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010), “σπάω, σπάομαι”, in Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 10), with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, page 1378
  2. ^ Rix, Helmut, editor (2001), “*(s)peh₂-”, in Lexikon der indogermanischen Verben [Lexicon of Indo-European Verbs] (in German), 2nd edition, Wiesbaden: Dr. Ludwig Reichert Verlag, →ISBN, page 575

Further reading

Greek

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Byzantine Greek σπῶ (spô) / σπάω (spáō), from Ancient Greek σπάω (spáō), of Proto-Indo-European origin. Also see σπάζω (spázo).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈspa.o/
  • Hyphenation: σπά‧ω

Verb

σπάω • (spáo) (imperfect έσπαγα, past έσπασα, passive —, ppp σπασμένος)

  1. alternative form of σπάζω (spázo) (active voice only)
    1. (transitive) to break
    2. (intransitive) to break (into two or more pieces that cannot easily be reassembled)
    3. (slang) to split, to leave
    4. (colloquial) to irritate
      Μου τη σπάει πολύ αυτός ο καθηγητής.
      Mou ti spáei polý aftós o kathigitís.
      This professor really gets on my nerves.

Conjugation

Derived terms

  • μου τη σπάει (mou ti spáei, it irritates me) (colloquial only)
  • σπάω στο ξύλο (spáo sto xýlo, to beat someone up)