γλύφω

Forms

γλῠ́φω (glúphō) ^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Hellenic *glúpʰō, inherited from Proto-Indo-European *glewbʰ- (“to cut out, split”).^[1][2][3] Greek has the zero grade in the verb and all its derivatives, while Germanic keeps the ablauting verb, as in Old High German klioban (“to cleave, split”).^[4][3] Latin glūbō (“to peel”) probably continues the old full grade.^[3][4] The English verb cleave and Old English clēofan are cognate.^[1] Some compare γλαφυρός (glaphurós, “hollow, polished”).^[3][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in Herodotus, of sculptors, as opposed to painters, and of engraving seals.^[6][7]

Semantic evolution

In Attic it is to carve with a knife: Aristophanes uses it for carving toy ships, and Plato for engraving rings and for carved figures.^[6][8] The middle means to have something carved or engraved for oneself, in Theocritus and Plutarch.^[6][8] An epigram of Palladas uses it for noting down interest on wax tablets, and the passive is used of eggs being hatched.^[6]

Its derivatives include γλυπτός (gluptós) “carved”, γλυφή (gluphḗ) “carving” and τρίγλυφος (trígluphos), the triglyph of a Doric frieze.^[1]

Timeline

• 5th century BC – Herodotus uses it for sculptors and for engraving seals.^[6][7]
• 5th–4th century BC – Aristophanes uses it for carving toy ships.^[6][8]
• 5th–4th century BC – Plato uses it for engraving rings.^[6][8]
• 4th–3rd century BC – Theocritus uses the middle, to have a statue made.^[6][8]
• 3rd century BC – Antigonus of Carystus uses the passive for eggs being hatched.^[6][5]
• 4th–5th century AD – Palladas uses it for noting down on wax tablets.^[6][5]

Meanings

Verb

1. To carve or sculpt in wood or stone; to engrave seals and rings.^[6][8]
2. (middle) To have something carved or engraved for oneself.^[6][8]
3. To note down on wax tablets.^[6]
4. (passive, of eggs) To be hatched.^[6]

Word family

• γλύμμα (glúmma)
• γλυπτός (gluptós)
• γλυφή (gluphḗ)
• γλυφίς (gluphís)
• τρίγλυφος (trígluphos)

Related words

• γλαφυρός (glaphurós)
• Latin glūbō
• English cleave

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ Rix, Helmut, et al. (2001), Lexikon der indogermanischen Verben, 2nd ed., Wiesbaden: Reichert
3. ^ a b c d Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010), Etymological Dictionary of Greek, with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 10, Leiden; Boston: Brill
4. ^ a b Frisk, Hjalmar (1960–1972), Griechisches etymologisches Wörterbuch, 3 vols, Heidelberg: Carl Winter
5. ^ a b c Rodríguez Adrados, Francisco, et al., eds. (1980–), Diccionario Griego-Español, Madrid: CSIC, http://dge.cchs.csic.es/xdge
6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Liddell, Henry George; Scott, Robert; Jones, Henry Stuart (1940), A Greek-English Lexicon, 9th ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ a b Keersmaekers, Alek (2021–2025), GLAUx: The Greek Language Automated corpus, https://github.com/alekkeersmaekers/glaux
8. ^ a b c d e f g Diggle, James, et al., eds. (2021), The Cambridge Greek Lexicon, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press