Ancient Greek

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Etymology

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From the o-grade κοντ‑ of the root κεντ‑ underlying κεντέω, -ῶ (kentéō, -ô, prick), κέντρον (kéntron, centre).[1]

The Hellenistic Koine "short" sense is derived from the ancient "pole" sense, which referred to shorter kinds of spears, poles, hence "(short) pole" > "shortness". Compare κοντοφόρος (kontophóros, carrying a (short) pole) in contrast to δορῠφόρος (doruphóros, carrying a (long) spear).[2]

Not related to ἀκόντιον (akóntion, javelin).

Pronunciation

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Adjective

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κοντός (kontósm (feminine κοντή, neuter κοντόν); first/second declension (Koine)

  1. short
    Synonym: βρᾰχῠ́ς (brakhús)

Inflection

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Alternative forms

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Descendants

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  • Medieval and Modern Greek: κοντός (kontós) (sense: short)

Noun

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κοντός (kontósm (genitive κοντοῦ); second declension

  1. pole
  2. pike
  3. (medicine) (in plural): crutch
  4. goad

Inflection

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Descendants

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See also

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  • Also see the different etymological field of ἀκόντιον n (akóntion, javelin)

References

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  1. ^ Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010) “κοντός”, in Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 10), with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, page 747
  2. ^ κοντός - Babiniotis, Georgios (2010) Ετυμολογικό λεξικό της νέας ελληνικής γλώσσας Etymologikó lexikó tis néas ellinikís glóssas [Etymological Dictionary of Modern Greek language] (in Greek), Athens: Lexicology Centre
  3. ^ κοντάριονKriaras, Emmanuel (1969-) Επιτομή του Λεξικού της Μεσαιωνικής Ελληνικής Δημώδους Γραμματείας (Epitomí tou Lexikoú tis Mesaionikís Ellinikís Dimódous Grammateías) [Concise Dictionary of the Kriaras' Dictionary of Medieval Vulgar Greek Literature (1100–1669) Vols. 1–14. Vols 15- under I. Kazazes.)] (in Greek), Thessaloniki: Centre for the Greek language Online edition (abbreviations) Printed edition 2022: 22 vols.)

Further reading

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Greek

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Etymology

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Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /konˈdos/
  • Hyphenation: κο‧ντός

Adjective

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κοντός (kontósm (feminine κοντή, neuter κοντό)

  1. short (in height)

Declension

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Comparative κοντύτερος (kontýteros) & (and κοντότερος); no absolute superlative

Synonyms

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Derived terms

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See also

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Noun

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κοντός (kontósm

  1. (formal) pole
    Synonym: κοντάρι (kontári)

Declension

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Derived terms

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References

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  1. ^ κοντός, in Λεξικό της κοινής νεοελληνικής [Dictionary of Standard Modern Greek], Triantafyllidis Foundation, 1998 at the Centre for the Greek language