σφετερίζω

Ancient Greek

Etymology

From σφέτερος (sphéteros, one's own) +‎ -ίζω (-ízō, denominative verb suffix).

Pronunciation

 

Verb

σφετερίζω • (spheterízō)

  1. (chiefly mediopassive voice) make one's own, appropriate, usurp.
    • 330 BCE, Demosthenes, On the Crown 71:
      ἀλλ’ ὁ τὴν Εὔβοιαν ἐκεῖνος σφετεριζόμενος καὶ κατασκευάζων ἐπιτείχισμ’ ἐπὶ τὴν Ἀττικήν, [] πότερον [] ἠδίκει καὶ παρεσπόνδει καὶ ἔλυε τὴν εἰρήνην ἤ οὔ;
      all’ ho tḕn Eúboian ekeînos spheterizómenos kaì kataskeuázōn epiteíkhism’ epì tḕn Attikḗn, [] póteron [] ēdíkei kaì parespóndei kaì élue tḕn eirḗnēn ḗ oú?
      But was that one, usurping Euboea and preparing an attack on Attica, [] acting unjustly and treacherously and breaking the peace, or not?

Conjugation

Descendants

  • > Greek: σφετερίζομαι (sfeterízomai) (inherited)

Further reading