Ancient Greek

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Etymology

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Traditionally derived from Proto-Indo-European *gres- (to gnaw, eat) (although Frisk considers *gr̥s- a more appropriate reconstruction). Possible cognates include Sanskrit ग्रसति (grasati, to devour), Old Norse krás f (delicious food), and the less likely Latin grāmen n (grass, herb).[1]

Pronunciation

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Verb

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γράω (gráō) (rare)

  1. to gnaw, eat
    • 3rd century BCE, Callimachus, Fragmenta[1], section 200:
      γόνος αἰζηῶν ἔγραε κηδεμόνα
      gónos aizēôn égrae kēdemóna
      the offspring of the vigorous gnawed the guardian

Usage notes

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The imperative form (singular) γρά (grá, eat!) is given by Hesychius, whereas in Cypriot inscriptions this is found as γράσθι (grásthi).

Inflection

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Derived terms

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010) “γράω”, in Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 10), with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, page 286

Further reading

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