Ancient Greek edit

Alternative forms edit

Etymology edit

From Proto-Indo-European *péth₂eti (to fly) from the root *peth₂- (literally to spread one’s wings). Cognates Old English feþer (English feather), Latin petō, Sanskrit पतति (pátati), Avestan 𐬞𐬀𐬙𐬀𐬌𐬙𐬌 (pataiti), Old Armenian թիռ (tʿiṙ).

Pronunciation edit

 

Verb edit

πέτομαι (pétomai)

  1. to fly
    • 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Iliad 13.59:
      αὐτὸς δ’ ὥς τ’ ἴρηξ ὠκύπτερος ὦρτο πέτεσθαι
      autòs d’ hṓs t’ írēx ōkúpteros ôrto pétesthai
      And himself, even as a hawk, swift of flight, speedeth forth to fly
    1. (figuratively)
      • 522 BCE – 443 BCE, Pindar, Pythian Ode 8.90:
        ὁ δὲ καλόν τι νέον λαχὼν
        ἁβρότατος ἔπι μεγάλας
        ἐξ ἐλπίδος πέταται
        ὑποπτέροις ἀνορέαις
        ho dè kalón ti néon lakhṑn
        habrótatos épi megálas
        ex elpídos pétatai
        hupoptérois anoréais
        But he who has gained some fine new thing in his great opulence flies beyond hope on the wings of his manliness
  2. to dart, rush; to make haste
    • 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Iliad 13.754:
      κεκλήγων, διὰ δὲ Τρώων πέτετ’ ἠδ’ ἐπικούρων
      keklḗgōn, dià dè Trṓōn pétet’ ēd’ epikoúrōn
      and with loud shouting sped he through the Trojans and allies

Usage notes edit

The second aorist is more common than the first.

Inflection edit

Derived terms edit

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Descendants edit

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