λα- + χέω
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Transliteration (Word)
English translation (word)
Transliteration (Etymon)
English translation (etymon)
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Quotation
Λήκυθος: ἀγγεῖον τὸ λεγόμενον λαγύνιον. παρὰ τὸ λάχυτός τις οὖσα. ἢ παρὰ τὸ κύτος λάκυτός τις οὖσα, ἡ μέγα κύτος ἔχουσα.
Translation (En)
Lēkuthos "oil-flask": a vase also called lagunion "small flask". From la-khutos "greatly poured", as it were. Or from kutos "hollow", *lakutos, as it were, the one "having a large hollow"
Parallels
Etym. Magnum, Kallierges, p. 563 ( Λήκυθος: Ἀγγεῖον ἐλαιοδόχον· ἢ τὸ λεγόμενον λαγύνιον· λάχυτός τις οὖσα, παρὰ τὸ μεγάλως χωρεῖν. Ἢ παρὰ τὸ κύτος λάκυτος, ἡ μεγαλόκυτος. Ἢ λεῖον κύτος ἔχουσα· ἢ τὸ προχούδιον, παρὰ τὸ ἔλαιον κεύθειν); Ps.-Zonaras, Lexicon, lambda, p. 1304 (Λήκυθος. ἐλαιοδόχον ἀγγεῖον ἢ λαγύνιον. λάχυτός τις οὖσα. ἢ παρὰ τὸ κύτος τις οὖσα, ἡ μέγα κύτος ἔχουσα. λήκυθος καὶ ἐπὶ ἀρσενικοῦ); Schol. Od. ζ 79c Pontani (ληκύθῳ: τὸ λεγόμενον “λαγύνιον”, παρὰ τὸ “λαχύτος” τις οὖσα)
Comment
Compositional etymology relying on the observation of the action of dissimilation in aspirate consonants: -κυθος is assumed to be a transposition of χυτός "poured" (verbal adjective of χέω), as Ionic κιθών vs Attic χιτών "tunic", or Attic ἐνταῦθα vs Ionic ἐνθαῦτα "there". Since the vase contains a liquid, its function is to pour, and this etymology could seem natural to a Greek. The first syllable is identified as the intensive prefix λα-, with a change of the vowel (not commented upon).