λαβύρινθος

Ancient Greek edit

Etymology edit

Unknown, but Proto-Hellenic *dabúrintʰos can be reconstructed;[1] likely Pre-Greek (whence Mycenaean Greek 𐀅𐀢𐀪𐀵𐀍 (da-pu-ri-to-jo)). Possibly from Lydian 𐤩𐤠𐤡𐤭𐤧𐤳 (labrys, double-edged axe), a royal symbol, as λαβύρινθος (labúrinthos) supposedly originally referred to a Minoan palace on Crete.[2] See also λάβρυς (lábrus, axe) and λαύρα (laúra, lane, passage). The spelling in Linear B suggests an origin in another language, possibly Minoan.

Pronunciation edit

 

Noun edit

λᾰβῠ́ρῐνθος (labúrinthosm (genitive λᾰβῠρῐ́νθου); second declension

  1. A labyrinth, maze; a large building consisting of numerous halls connected by intricate and tortuous passages.
    1. Something obscure or inscrutable.
  2. Any wreathed or coiled up body.

Inflection edit

Descendants edit

  • Latin: labyrinthus (see there for further descendants)
  • Greek: λαβύρινθος (lavýrinthos)
  • Russian: лабири́нт (labirínt)

References edit

  1. ^ Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010) Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 10), with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN
  2. ^ LABYRINTHUS”, in William Smith et al., editor (1890) A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, London: William Wayte. G. E. Marindin

Greek edit

Pronunciation edit

Noun edit

λαβύρινθος (lavýrinthosm (plural λαβύρινθοι)

  1. maze, labyrinth
  2. (anatomy) labyrinth (part of inner ear)

Declension edit