πίθος

Ancient Greek

Alternative forms

• πίδος (pídos)

Etymology

Like many Greek words for pottery, most likely of Pre-Greek origin, as evidenced by the irregular variations between:

• ⟨δ⟩ and ⟨θ⟩, the former as in e.g. πίδος (pídos)
• ⟨π⟩ and ⟨φ⟩, as in the derived terms πιθάκνη (pitháknē) ~ φιδάκνη (phidáknē) and πιθάκνιον (pitháknion) ~ φιδάκνιον (phidáknion)
• ⟨ι⟩ and ⟨ε⟩, the latter as in Mycenaean Greek 𐀤𐀵 (qe-to).

Formerly compared to Old Norse biða (“milk jug/bucket”) and Latin fidēlia (“earthen vessel, pot”), assuming a Proto-Indo-European root *bʰidʰ-. The apparent cognate in Mycenaean Greek, if related, however rules out an initial labial consonant in the source.

Pronunciation

Noun

πῐ́θος • (píthos) m (genitive πῐ́θου); second declension

1. large wine jar, cask

   πίθοι ξύλινοι, κεράμινοι, ἀργύρεοι ― píthoi xúlinoi, keráminoi, argúreoi ― jars wooden, of clay, silver.

2. (proverbs, expressions)
   1. of the task of the Danaids, of labour in vain
      • 430 BCE – 354 BCE, Xenophon, Oeconomicus 7.40:

        τό εἰς τὸν τετρημένον πίθον ἀντλεῖν

        tó eis tòn tetrēménon píthon antleîn

        to the perforated jar bale water

   2. of a Cynic's life, like Diogenes

      ζωὴ πίθου ― zōḕ píthou ― a life of jar (in a jar)

   3. very witty, referring to Diogenes

      πίθος φρενών ― píthos phrenṓn ― a cask wit

   4. your purse is deep

      ἐκ πίθω ἀντλεῖς ― ek píthō antleîs ― you have wine by the caskful

      • 300 BCE – 200 BCE, Theocritus, Epigrams 10.13:

        ἐκ πίθω ἀντλεῖς.

        ek píthō antleîs.

        you have wine by the caskful.

Inflection

Synonyms

• ᾰ̓μφορεύς m (amphoreús, “jar”)

Derived terms

• πιθάκνη (pitháknē); πισάκνα (pisákna) (Doric)
• πιθάριον (pithárion)
• πιθίσκος (pithískos)
• πιθώδης (pithṓdēs)

Descendants

• Greek:

  Medieval Greek: πιθάριον n (pithárion) (diminutive)

  Modern Greek: πιθάρι n (pithári)

  Modern Greek: πίθος m (píthos)

References

Further reading

• “πίθος”, in Liddell & Scott (1940) A Greek–English Lexicon, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• “πίθος”, in Liddell & Scott (1889) An Intermediate Greek–English Lexicon, New York: Harper & Brothers
• πίθος in Bailly, Anatole (1935) Le Grand Bailly: Dictionnaire grec-français, Paris: Hachette

Greek

Alternative forms

• πιθάρι n (pithári) (more common)

Etymology

From Ancient Greek πῐ́θος (píthos).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈpiθos/
• Hyphenation: πί‧θος

Noun

πίθος • (píthos) m (plural πίθοι)

1. (learned) large jar, cask
2. (expression) (for monotonous, impossible tasks) the jar of the Daughters of Danaus

   o πίθος των Δαναΐδων ― o píthos ton Danaḯdon ― the jar of the Danaids/daughters of Danaus

Declension

Synonyms

• πιθάρι n (pithári) (more common)