Ancient Greek edit

Etymology edit

From Proto-Indo-European *ḱent-r-om (pointed tool), from *ḱent- (to prick; point); direct cognate with Albanian çandër (forked pole) and probably Old Armenian սանտր (santr), սանդր (sandr, comb).

Equivalent to κεντέω (kentéō, I sting) +‎ -τρον (-tron).

Pronunciation edit

 

Noun edit

κέντρον (kéntronn (genitive κέντρου); second declension

  1. Something with a sharp point: point, spike, spur
  2. sting, quill, thorn
  3. Torture device or instrument of motivation: whip, goad
  4. nail, rivet
  5. stationary point of a pair of compasses
  6. center of a circle
  7. (figuratively, vulgar) penis
    • Sotades on Ptolemy II's incestuous marriage, cited by Plutarch, De liberis educandis 11a, and Athenaeus, Deipnosophistae 14.621a:
      εἰς οὐχ ὁσίην τρυμαλιὴν τὸ κέντρον ὠθεῖς.
      eis oukh hosíēn trumaliḕn tò kéntron ōtheîs.
      You're sticking your prick in an unholy hole.

Inflection edit

Related terms edit

Descendants edit

Further reading edit