λιμήν

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Ancient Greek

Etymology

Ablaut derivation from Proto-Indo-European *léymō; compare λίμνη (límnē). See λειμών (leimṓn) for a descendant in a different ablaut grade.

Pronunciation

 

Noun

λῐμήν (limḗnm (genitive λῐμένος); third declension

  1. harbor
    • 360 BCE, Plato, Timaeus 25a:
      τάδε μὲν γάρ φαίνεται λιμὴν στενόν τινα ἔχων εἴσπλουν
      táde mèn gár [] phaínetai limḕn stenón tina ékhōn eísploun
      For this is apparently a harbor having a narrow entrance.
  2. (figuratively) a haven, retreat, refuge
    • 497 BCE – 405 BCE, Sophocles, Ajax 683:
      τοῖς πολλοῖσι γὰρ βροτῶν ἄπιστός ἐσθ’ ἑταιρείας λιμήν.
      toîs polloîsi gàr brotôn ápistós esth’ hetaireías limḗn.
      For the masses of mortals regard the haven of friendship as treacherous.

Declension

Derived terms

Descendants

References

  1. ^ Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010) Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 10), with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, page 843

Further reading