piffissaq

Greenlandic

Etymology

From Proto-Inuit *piviɣ (“time or place”), from Proto-Eskimo *piviɣ (“direction, time or place for something”). Compare piffik (“time, buffet”).

Pronunciation

• (Nuuk) IPA^(key): /piffissaq/, [pɪf.fɪs.sɑq]

Noun

piffissaq (plural piffissat)

1. time, period of time
   • 2002, Stephen Hammeken, Harry Potter Ujarallu Inuunartoq, Nuuk: Atuakkiorfik, translation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J. K. Rowling, →ISBN, page 4:

     Angutaavoq angisooq pualasooq qungaseqanngingajattoq kakkivissamigullu umikkaarsuaq. Nulia arnaavoq saluttoq qaamasoq, qungasiali inunnut nalinginnaasunut naleqqiullugu marloriaammik takineruvoq, qungatsimilu taamaattuunera iluaqutigisarpaa eqqaamiuni naatsiiviup ungalui orpikkat qulaallugit piffissarujussuaq atorlugu marsertaramigit.

     He was a big, beefy man with hardly any neck, although he did have a very large moustache. Mrs Durlsey was thin and blonde and had nearly twice the usual amount of neck, which came in very useful as she spent so much of her time craning over garden fences, spying on the neighbours.

Declension

Declension of piffissaq

	singular	plural
absolutive	piffissaq	piffissat
ergative	piffissap	piffissat
allative	piffissamut	piffissanut
ablative	piffissamit	piffissanit
prosecutive	piffissakkut	piffissatigut
locative	piffissami	piffissani
instrumental	piffissamik	piffissanik
equative	piffissatut	piffissatut