Ancient Greek edit

Etymology edit

Nominalised female form of the adjective γρῶνος (grônos, hollow, cavernous) which is of unknown origin. The traditional connection to γράω (gráō, gnaw, eat) via the unattested form *γρώσνος (*grṓsnos) is doubtful since the verb does not show ablaut, with the semantic connection also being poor.

Pronunciation edit

 

Noun edit

γρώνη (grṓnēf (genitive γρώνης); first declension

  1. cavern (from the phrase γρώνη πέτρα (grṓnē pétra, cavernous cave))
  2. hollow vessel
  3. kneading trough
    • 3rd century BCE, Leonidas of Tarentum, chapter 736, in Greek Anthology, Book VII[1]:
      φυστὴ ἐνὶ γρώνῃ μασσομένη παλάμαις
      phustḕ enì grṓnēi massoménē palámais
      barley cake kneaded in a trough by hands

Inflection edit

Descendants edit

  • Greek: γούρνα (goúrna, natural water-filled cavity, watering trough, cavity of a sink)

Further reading edit