σφάκελος

Ancient Greek

Pronunciation

 

Etymology 1

The formation is similar to σκόπελος (skópelos) and πύελος (púelos), from an unknown root. According to Pokorny, from Proto-Indo-European *(s)penh₁- (to spin (thread); to stretch).

The word has been connected with Middle High German spachen (to split) and Low German spaken (to putrify) but it can hardly be correct.

Noun

σφάκελος • (sphákelosm (genitive σφᾰκέλου); second declension

  1. (pathology) gangrene, caries, necrosis
  2. spasm, convulsion, cramp, twitching pain
Inflection
Derived terms
  • σφακελίζω (sphakelízō)
  • σφακελισμός (sphakelismós)
  • σφακελώδης (sphakelṓdēs)
Descendants
  • English: sphacel, sphacelus
  • French: sphacèle
  • Italian: sfacelo
  • Portuguese: esfácelo

Etymology 2

From Pre-Greek, in view of the variation.

Alternative forms

  • σφάκηλος (sphákēlos)

Noun

σφάκελος • (sphákelosm (genitive σφᾰκέλου); second declension

  1. (anatomy) middle finger
Inflection

References

Further reading