Greek

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Etymology

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From Byzantine Greek σπανός (spanós), from the first component of Koine Greek σπανοπώγων (spanopṓgōn, who has a sparse beard) (see πώγων (pṓgōn, beard) for the second component),[1] further from σπάνιος (spánios, rare, scarce).[2] Alternatively, directly from σπάνιος (spánios), with the same formation pattern seen in ὀρθός (orthós, straight) < ὄρθιος (órthios, id).[3]

Despite similar phonetics and semantics, not related to σπαρνός (sparnós, sparse, rare) or Latvian spārns (wing). However, compare Romanian spân (hairless), Aromanian spãn, Sicilian spanu, which may derive from the same Ancient Greek root, possibly via a Vulgar Latin intermediate.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /spaˈnos/
  • Hyphenation: σπα‧νός

Adjective

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σπανός (spanósm (feminine σπανή, neuter σπανό)

  1. hairless

Declension

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Derived terms

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References

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  1. ^ σπανός, in Λεξικό της κοινής νεοελληνικής [Dictionary of Standard Modern Greek], Triantafyllidis Foundation, 1998 at the Centre for the Greek language
  2. ^ Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010) “σπάνις, -εως (> DER > 1. > shortened σπανός)”, in Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 10), with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, page 1375
  3. ^ σπανός - 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