λαβύρινθος

Ancient Greek

Etymology

Unknown, but Proto-Hellenic *dabúrintʰos can be reconstructed;[1] likely Pre-Greek (whence Mycenaean Greek 𐀅𐀢𐀪𐀵𐀍 (da-pu-ri-to-jo)). Possibly from Lydian 𐤩𐤠𐤡𐤭𐤧𐤳 (labrys, double-edged axe), a royal symbol, as λαβύρινθος (labúrinthos) supposedly originally referred to a Minoan palace on Crete.[2] See also λάβρυς (lábrus, axe) and λαύρα (laúra, lane, passage).

Pronunciation

 

Noun

λᾰβῠ́ρῐνθος (labúrinthos) m (genitive λᾰβῠρῐ́νθου); second declension

  1. A labyrinth, maze; a large building consisting of numerous halls connected by intricate and tortuous passages.
    1. Something obscure or inscrutable.
  2. Any wreathed or coiled up body.

Inflection

Descendants

References

  1. Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010) Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 10), with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN
  2. LABYRINTHUS”, in William Smith et al., editor (1890) A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, London: William Wayte. G. E. Marindin

Greek

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /laˈvi.ɾin.θos/

Noun

λαβύρινθος (lavýrinthos) m (plural λαβύρινθοι)

  1. maze, labyrinth
  2. (anatomy) labyrinth (part of inner ear)

Declension

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