Jump to content

ψηλαφάω

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

Ancient Greek

[edit]

Etymology

[edit]

Analyzed by Fick as a univerbation from the aorist form of ψάλλω (psállō, to pluck, pull, twitch) and ἀφάω (apháō, to handle). It remains unclear, however, why the aorist was preferred. Bechtel recognises a noun *ψᾱ́λα (*psā́la) in the first member, referring to μηλαφάω (mēlapháō, to touch with a probe); but this rare verb was created after the example of ψηλαφάω (psēlapháō), which is more common. If -αφ- is rather a suffix, the word could be Pre-Greek.

Pronunciation

[edit]
 

Verb

[edit]

ψηλᾰφᾰ́ω (psēlapháō)

  1. to feel or grope about to find a thing, like a blind man
  2. to feel, touch, handle, stroke
  3. (figuratively) to test, examine

Conjugation

[edit]

Derived terms

[edit]

Further reading

[edit]