Ancient Greek

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Etymology

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Nominalised female form of the adjective γρῶνος (grônos, hollow, cavernous) which is of unknown origin. The traditional connection to γράω (gráō, gnaw, eat) via the unattested form *γρώσνος (*grṓsnos) is doubtful since the verb does not show ablaut, with the semantic connection also being poor.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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γρώνη (grṓnēf (genitive γρώνης); first declension

  1. cavern (from the phrase γρώνη πέτρα (grṓnē pétra, cavernous cave))
  2. hollow vessel
  3. kneading trough
    • 3rd century BCE, Leonidas of Tarentum, chapter 736, in Greek Anthology, Book VII[1]:
      φυστὴ ἐνὶ γρώνῃ μασσομένη παλάμαις
      phustḕ enì grṓnēi massoménē palámais
      barley cake kneaded in a trough by hands

Inflection

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Descendants

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  • Greek: γούρνα (goúrna, natural water-filled cavity, watering trough, cavity of a sink)

Further reading

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