Ancient Greek edit

Etymology edit

Furnée connects it with ἐξαίφνης (exaíphnēs, on a sudden) and ἄφνω (áphnō, suddenly). Probably of Pre-Greek origin. Compare αἰπός (aipós), αἰπεινός (aipeinós).

Pronunciation edit

 

Adjective edit

αἰπῠ́ς (aipúsm (feminine αἰπεῖᾰ, neuter αἰπύ); first/third declension (Epic, poetic)

  1. steep, sheer
    • 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Odyssey 3.293:
      ἔστι δέ τις λισσὴ αἰπεῖά τε εἰς ἅλα πέτρη
      ἐσχατιῇ Γόρτῡνος ἐν ἠεροειδέι πόντῳ·
      ésti dé tis lissḕ aipeîá te eis hála pétrē
      eskhatiêi Górtūnos en ēeroeidéi póntōi;
      There is a certain smooth rock, sheer into the seawater,
      on the edge of Gortyn in the misty sea:
  2. (of cities) set on a steep slope, on the top of a hill: high, lofty
    • 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Iliad 15.70–71:
      εἰς ὅ κ’ Ἀχαιοὶ
      Ῑ̓̓λιον αἰπὺ ἕλοιεν Ἀθηναίης διὰ βουλᾱ́ς.
      eis hó k’ Akhaioì
      Īlion aipù héloien Athēnaíēs dià boulā́s.
      until the Achaeans
      take lofty Ilium through the counsels of Athena.
  3. (figurative) sheer, utter
    • 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Odyssey 1.11–12:
      ἔνθ’ ἄλλοι μὲν πάντες, ὅσοι φύγον αἰπὺν ὄλεθρον,
      οἴκοι ἔσαν, πόλεμόν τε πεφευγότες ἠδὲ θάλασσαν·
      énth’ álloi mèn pántes, hósoi phúgon aipùn ólethron,
      oíkoi ésan, pólemón te pepheugótes ēdè thálassan;
      Then all the others, who had fled sheer destruction,
      were at home, and had escaped war and the sea.

Inflection edit

Synonyms edit

References edit