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ἀλφηστής. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
ἀλφηστής, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
ἀλφηστής in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
ἀλφηστής you have here. The definition of the word
ἀλφηστής will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
ἀλφηστής, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
Ancient Greek
Etymology
Two possibile etymologies have been given. Traditionally it was interpreted as a derivative of ἀλφάνω (alphánō, “to produce, to earn”), therefore meaning “industrious”. After the 19th century another interpretation has been given, translating it as “bread eater”, and deriving it from ἄλφι (álphi, “flour”), with the addition of a suffix that means “to eat”.[1]
Noun
ἀλφηστής • (alphēstḗs) m (genitive -ου); first declension
- flour eater, bread eater.
- that lives by toil.
Declension
- Noun masc dat pl : ἀλφηστῇσιν (Hom. Od. 1.349)
- Noun masc acc pl: ἀλφηστὰς (Hom. Od. 13.261)
- ἄλφι (álphi, “barley flour”)
- ἀλφάνω (alphánō, “to produce, to earn”)
References
- ^ Chantraine (1968), pp. 66–7
Further reading