κρίτανος

Ancient Greek

Etymology

Unknown. Only attested as a gloss in Hesychius. Cognate with Mycenaean Greek 𐀑𐀲𐀜 (ki-ta-no).

This word is glossed with τέρμινθος (términthos), which is usually interpreted as meaning 'terebinth', a kind of tree, but this identification may be questioned. Hescyhius himself states of τέρμινθος that it is a 'plant resembling flax, from which the Athenians weave their nets'. This equation with 'flax' would yield potentional Semitic cognates for κρίτανος, like Classical Syriac ܟܬܢܐ (kettānā) and Akkadian 𒃰 (kitûm, “flax”).

Pronunciation

 

• IPA^(key): /ˈkri.ta.nos/ → /ˈkri.ta.nos/

• (4^th CE Koine) IPA^(key): /ˈkri.ta.nos/
• (10^th CE Byzantine) IPA^(key): /ˈkri.ta.nos/
• (15^th CE Constantinopolitan) IPA^(key): /ˈkri.ta.nos/

Noun

κρίτανος • (krítanos) ? (indeclinable)

1. (hapax) terebinth

   Synonym: τέρμινθος (términthos)

   • [5th c. C.E., Hesychius of Alexandria, Γλώσσαι, Κ:

     κρίτανος· τέρμινθος

     krítanos; términthos

     krítanos: terebinth]

Further reading

• “κρίτανος”, in Liddell & Scott (1940) A Greek–English Lexicon, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• Hesychius' Lexicon: κ