σφίγγω: Difference between revisions

{{etym

|etymtx=Grammatical information: v.<br />Meaning: <b class="b2">to bind, to embrace, to jam in</b>; non-pres. forms almost only hell. a. late (since Emp., A. Pr. 58)<br />Other forms: Aor. <b class="b3">σφίγξαι</b>, <b class="b3">σφιγχθῆναι</b>, fut. <b class="b3">σφίγξω</b>, perf. midd. <b class="b3">ἔσφιγμαι</b>.<br />Compounds: Often w. prefix, e.g. <b class="b3">περι-</b>, <b class="b3">συν-</b>, <b class="b3">ἐπι-</b>.<br />Derivatives: 1. Vbaladj. <b class="b3">σφιγκτός</b> [[bound]] (AP, Opp. a.o.). 2. <b class="b3">σφιγκ-τήρ</b> m. "binder" (AP, Nonn., of collar resp. fetter), des. muscle closing an aperture (medic. a.o.), also = <b class="b3">χιτών</b>. <b class="b3">Ταραντῖνοι</b> H. (as closely fitting); Lat. LW [loanword] [[spinter]] n. [[bracelet]] (Leumann Spr. 1, 205 = Kl. Schr. 172); <b class="b3">-τωρ</b> of reins (AP); <b class="b3">-της</b> = <b class="b3">κίναιδος</b> (Cratin., H.), Lat. LW [loanword] [[spintria]] m. <b class="b2">id.</b> 3. <b class="b3">σφίγξις</b> (<b class="b3">ἀπό-</b>, <b class="b3">διά-</b>, <b class="b3">περί-</b>), also <b class="b3">ἀπό-σφιξις</b> f. <b class="b2">the binding</b> (medic. a.o.). 4. <b class="b3">σφίγμα</b> (<b class="b3">ὑπό-</b>) n. [[obstruction]] (Hero, medic.). -- On itself stands, apparently as backformation ("rootnoun") <b class="b3">Σφίγξ</b>, <b class="b3">-ιγγός</b> f. [[sphinx]] (Hdt., A., E. etc.), also name of an ape (Agatharch. a.o.). Compp. <b class="b3">ἀνδρό-σφιγξ</b> m. <b class="b2">male sphinx</b> (Hdt.), <b class="b3">σφιγγό-πους</b> <b class="b2">with sphinx-feet</b> (hell.). From it <b class="b3">σφιγγ-ίον</b> n. <b class="b2">kind of ape</b> (Plin., inscr. Praeneste), meaning unclear (Luc. Apol. 1); <b class="b3">-ίδιον</b> n. <b class="b2">little sphinx</b> (inscr.). Besides acc. <b class="b3">Φῖκα</b> (vv. ll. <b class="b3">Σφῖκα</b>, <b class="b3">Φίγγα</b>, <b class="b3">Σφίγγα</b>) f. (Hes. Th. 326), <b class="b3">Σφίξ</b>, <b class="b3">-ικός</b> (Choerob.; also Thess. inscr. VIIa?); <b class="b3">Βῖκας Σφίγγας</b> H.<br />Origin: PG [a word of Pre-Greek origin]<br />Etymology: As basis of all forms served the pres. <b class="b3">σφίγγω</b>; the nasalless forms <b class="b3">ἔσφιγμαι</b>, <b class="b3">σφίγμα</b>, <b class="b3">ἀπόσφιξις</b> are secondary. -- Isolated. To be rejected Persson Beitr. 1, 399 (with reservation; referee in Bq, WP. 2, 658, Pok. 984). The judgement of <b class="b3">Σφίγξ</b> is difficult. The by-forms <b class="b3">Φῖκα</b>, <b class="b3">Σφῖκα</b> as well as <b class="b3">φιγγα</b> = <b class="b3">σφίγγα</b> in Pl. Kra. 414 d may be due to folketymological adaptations; cf. also the <b class="b3">Φίκιον ὄρος</b> north of Thebes (on it v. Wilamowitz Glaube l. 269). -- The variations show a Pre-Greek word. On the possibility of an Egyptian loan Mac Creedy, Glotta 46, 1968, 250.

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