ἐπίχριστος

Ancient Greek

Etymology

From ἐπι- (epi-, “on, over”) +‎ χρῑστός (khrīstós, “rubbed; anointed”).

Pronunciation

(5^th BCE Attic) IPA^(key): /e.pí.kʰriːs.tos/
(1^st CE Egyptian) IPA^(key): /eˈpi.kʰris.tos/
(4^th CE Koine) IPA^(key): /eˈpi.xris.tos/
(10^th CE Byzantine) IPA^(key): /eˈpi.xris.tos/
(15^th CE Constantinopolitan) IPA^(key): /eˈpi.xris.tos/

Adjective

ἐπίχρῑστος • (epíkhrīstos) m or f (neuter ἐπίχρῑστον); second declension

smeared on; applied as a surface coating (e.g. of medicines or dyes)
- 64 BCE – 24 CE, Strabo, Geog. 11.8.7:
  τὴν δ᾽ ἐσθῆτα ποικίλλουσιν ἐπιχρίστοις φαρμάκοις δυσεξίτηλον ἔχουσι τὸ ἄνθος
  tḕn d’ esthêta poikíllousin epikhrístois pharmákois dusexítēlon ékhousi tò ánthos
  they variegate their clothing with medicine smeared on, producing a colour not easily effaced
(cosmetic) rouged, painted; cosmetically made up
- 100 CE – 200 CE, Maximus of Tyre, 37 4:
  ἐπίχριστον ἑταίρας ἄνθος
  epíkhriston hetaíras ánthos
  the rouged bloom of a courtesan
(figurative) artificial, superficial
- 125 CE – 200 CE, Lucian, Timon 28:
  ὡς ἐπίχριστος ἡ εὐμορφία ἐστίν
  hōs epíkhristos hē eumorphía estín
  that beauty is something smeared on

Declension

Second declension of ἐπῐ́χρῑστος; ἐπῐ́χρῑστον (Attic)

Number	Singular			Dual			Plural
Case/Gender	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	ἐπῐ́χρῑστος epĭ́khrīstos		ἐπῐ́χρῑστον epĭ́khrīston	ἐπῐχρῑ́στω epĭkhrī́stō		ἐπῐχρῑ́στω epĭkhrī́stō	ἐπῐ́χρῑστοι epĭ́khrīstoi		ἐπῐ́χρῑστᾰ epĭ́khrīstă
Genitive	ἐπῐχρῑ́στου epĭkhrī́stou		ἐπῐχρῑ́στου epĭkhrī́stou	ἐπῐχρῑ́στοιν epĭkhrī́stoin		ἐπῐχρῑ́στοιν epĭkhrī́stoin	ἐπῐχρῑ́στων epĭkhrī́stōn		ἐπῐχρῑ́στων epĭkhrī́stōn
Dative	ἐπῐχρῑ́στῳ epĭkhrī́stōi		ἐπῐχρῑ́στῳ epĭkhrī́stōi	ἐπῐχρῑ́στοιν epĭkhrī́stoin		ἐπῐχρῑ́στοιν epĭkhrī́stoin	ἐπῐχρῑ́στοις epĭkhrī́stois		ἐπῐχρῑ́στοις epĭkhrī́stois
Accusative	ἐπῐ́χρῑστον epĭ́khrīston		ἐπῐ́χρῑστον epĭ́khrīston	ἐπῐχρῑ́στω epĭkhrī́stō		ἐπῐχρῑ́στω epĭkhrī́stō	ἐπῐχρῑ́στους epĭkhrī́stous		ἐπῐ́χρῑστᾰ epĭ́khrīstă
Vocative	ἐπῐ́χρῑστε epĭ́khrīste		ἐπῐ́χρῑστον epĭ́khrīston	ἐπῐχρῑ́στω epĭkhrī́stō		ἐπῐχρῑ́στω epĭkhrī́stō	ἐπῐ́χρῑστοι epĭ́khrīstoi		ἐπῐ́χρῑστᾰ epĭ́khrīstă
Derived forms	Adverb			Comparative			Superlative
Derived forms	ἐπῐχρῑ́στως epĭkhrī́stōs			ἐπῐχρῑστότερος epĭkhrīstóteros			ἐπῐχρῑστότᾰτος epĭkhrīstótătos
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For declension in other dialects, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal declension.

Usage notes

In its literal sense, ἐπίχρῑστος describes substances applied onto a surface as a coating, in contrast with ἔγχρῑστος (énkhrīstos), which emphasizes application by rubbing in. From cosmetic usage (“painted, rouged”), the adjective develops a metaphorical sense denoting what is merely superficial or externally applied.

Related terms

χρίω (khríō) / ἐπιχρίω (epikhríō)
ἔγχρῑστος (énkhrīstos)
κατάχρῑστος (katákhrīstos)