ἀλώπηξ

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See also: αλώπηξ

Ancient Greek

Alternative forms

Etymology

Presumably from earlier Proto-Hellenic *alōpēkos, *alṓpāks. Some linguists have attempted derivation from Proto-Indo-European *h₂lōpeh₂s (stem *h₂lop-); compare Old Armenian աղուէս (ałuēs), Lithuanian lãpė, Latvian lapsa and Sanskrit लोपाश (lopāśá). The many irregular variations on the word may suggest a Mediterranean wanderword instead; compare Luwian (ulipna-)/ (walipna-, wolf) and Latin vulpēs (fox).

Pronunciation

 

Noun

ᾰ̓λώπηξ (alṓpēxf (genitive ᾰ̓λώπεκος); third declension

  1. fox (small canine of the genus Vulpes)
    • 1st century C.E., Gospel of Matthew 8, 20b and Gospel of Luke 9, 58b (Q).
      Αἱ ἀλώπεκες φωλεοὺς ἔχουσιν καὶ τὰ πετεινὰ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ κατασκηνώσεις, ὁ δὲ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου οὐκ ἔχει ποῦ τὴν κεφαλὴν κλίνῃ.
      Hai alṓpekes phōleoùs ékhousin kaì tà peteinà toû ouranoû kataskēnṓseis, ho dè huiòs toû anthrṓpou ouk ékhei poû tḕn kephalḕn klínēi.
      The foxes have holes and the birds of the sky have roosts, but the Son of Man has nothing where he may lay his head.
    Synonym: βασσάρα (bassára)
  2. (figuratively) cunning or sly person

Inflection

Derived terms

Descendants

  • Greek: > αλεπού (alepoú) (inherited), ἀλώπηξ (alṓpēx), αλώπηξ (alópix) (learned)
  • > Pontic Greek: αλεπός (alepós) (inherited)
  • Samoan: ālope (learned)
    • Tokelauan: ālope (learned)
  • Translingual: Alopex (learned)

Further reading

Greek

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ἀλώπηξ (alṓpēx).

Noun

ἀλώπηξ (alṓpēxf (plural αλώπεκες)

  1. (Katharevousa) fox

Declension

Alternative forms

Synonyms

Related terms