καταλύω

Ancient Greek

Etymology

From κατα- (kata-, an intensifying prefix) + λύω (lúō, loosen).

Pronunciation

 

Verb

καταλύω (katalúō)

  1. sense: loosen, unbind
    1. (for animals) I unyoke, I unharness
      ἄλλ' εἴπ', σφωϊν καταλύσομεν ὠκέας ἵππους (Homer, Od., 4.28)
      but, tell us, shall we unharness their fast horses?
    2. I take down something hung or someone hanged
      τῶν ἀπαγχομένων καὶ καταλυομένων, μηδέπω δὲ τεθνηκότων ... (Hippocrates, Aphorismoi)
      about those who were hanged and taken down but have not died
  2. sense: destroy
    1. I destroy
      καὶ τὴν ὑμετέραν καταλῦσαι δύναμιν (Isocrates, De bigis, 40.8-9)
      to destroy your (city's) might
    2. I abolish, I do away with
      αὐτοὶ γὰρ ἡμεῖς δίς ἤδη τὴν δημοκρατίαν ἐπείδομεν καταλυθεῖσαν καὶ δίς τῆς ἐλευθερίας ἀπεστερήθημεν (Isocrates, In Lochitem, 10.2-4)
      twice we ourselves have already seen our democracy abolished and twice we have lost our freedom
    3. I deprive someone of their authority
      τοὺς τυράννους καταλύσας, καὶ τοὺς βαρβάρους καταπολεμήσας (Plutarchus, Timoleon, 39.5)
      having overthrown the tyrants and fought the barbarians
    4. I put an end to something
      καταλῦσαι τὸν βίον
      katalûsai tòn bíon
      (to die)
  3. I stay somewhere for one night, seek shelter
    1. (Θεμιστοκλῆς) ἀναγκάζεται κατά τι ἄπορον παρὰ Ἄδμητον τὸν Μολοσσῶν βασιλέα ὄντα αὐτῷ οὐ φίλον καταλῦσαι (Thucydides Hist., 1.136)
      (Themistoklês) anankázetai katá ti áporon parà Ádmēton tòn Molossôn basiléa ónta autôi ou phílon katalûsai (Thucydides Hist., 1.136)
      (Themistocles) being in a difficult position had to seek shelter from Admetos, the king of Molossi, though the latter was not a friend of his

Inflection

Derived terms

Further reading

Greek

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek καταλύω (katalúō). Morphologically, from κατα- (fully) + λύω (unbind, loosen).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /kataˈlio/
  • Hyphenation: κα‧τα‧λύ‧ω

Verb

καταλύω (katalýo) (past κατέλυσα, passive καταλύομαι)

  1. abolish, break down
  2. stay (usually for one night)
  3. (chemistry) to catalyze
  4. (religion) break one's fast (resume normal diet after fasting)

Conjugation

Derived terms

This article is issued from Wiktionary. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.