Ancient Greek

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Etymology

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The relation between this verb and the adjective δαίδᾰλος (daídalos, curiously wrought) is debated. Leumann started from a Mediterranean word *δαίδᾰλον (*daídalon, ornament), from which this verb and the compound πολῠδαίδᾰλος (poludaídalos, rich in ornament) would be derived. Others have taken the verb, which was thought to be an intensive reduplicated formation, as the starting point. Within Greek δέλτος (déltos, writing tablet) and δηλέομαι (dēléomai, to hurt, damage, spoil, waste) have been compared; further δάλλει (dállei, to do wrong) and δόλων (dólōn, poniard, stiletto). Not related are several words for "build, split" in other Indo-European languages, like Latin dolō (to hew) and Old Irish delb (form, shape, appearance, statue). Instead, Beekes considers Pre-Greek origin, for instance through a connection with the personal name Δαίδαλος (Daídalos).

Pronunciation

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Verb

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δαιδᾰ́λλω (daidállō)

  1. (active voice) to work cunningly, embellish, adorn
  2. (passive voice) to be spotted or marked

Inflection

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Derived terms

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Further reading

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