μαβής

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Greek

Etymology

From Ottoman Turkish ماوی (mavi, “blue, watery”), ultimately from Arabic ماء (māʔ, “water”).[1][2]

Pronunciation

Adjective

μαβής • (mavís) m (feminine μαβιά, neuter μαβί)

  1. (dated, poetic) azure, navy blue, dark blue[2][3][4][5] (literary use especially in reference to the sky, sea, or eyes)
    Synonyms: λουλακής (loulakís), βαθυγάλαζος (vathygálazos)
    • 1915, Constantine P. Cavafy, Θάλασσα του πρωϊού‎:
      θάλασσας του πρωιού κι ανέφελου ουρανού λαμπρά μαβιά
      thálassas tou proïoú ki anéfelou ouranoú lamprá maviá
      bright azures of morning sea and cloudless sky
    • 1914, Constantine P. Cavafy, Μακριά‎:
      Μόλις θυμούμαι πια τα μάτια· ήσαν, θαρρώ, μαβιά… Α ναι, μαβιά· ένα σαπφείρινο μαβί.
      Mólis thymoúmai pia ta mátia; ísan, tharró, maviá… A nai, maviá; éna sapfeírino maví.
      I barely remember the eyes now; they were, I gather, dark blue… Ah, yes, dark blue; sapphire blue.
  2. (colloquial) violet, mauve, dark purple[1][4][5]
    Synonyms: μενεξεδής (menexedís), μοβ (mov)

Usage notes

A semantic shift of the colour denoted by the word appears to have occurred in the second half of the 20th century.[6][7] Earlier (pre-WWII) dictionaries give the meaning exclusively as "dark blue" (cf. Modern Turkish mavi (“blue”)).[3][6] This is supported by the common use in concurrent literature (see Cavafy quotes). However, starting from the 1950-60s the second meaning of "mauve, dark purple" appears in major dictionaries.[4] According to Sarantakos[7] this is perhaps due to diminishing contact and understanding of the Turkish language, where the term originates, and the semantic influence of phonetically similar μοβ (mov) (from French mauve). Nowadays, discrepancies are found among major dictionaries;[6] some sources note both meanings,[5] while others only include "mauve, dark purple",[1] indicating the dominance of the latter in colloquial speech.[7]

Declension

Declension of μαβής
number 
case \ gender  		singular plural
masculine feminine neuter masculine feminine neuter
nominative μαβής • μαβιά • μαβί • μαβιοί • μαβιές • μαβιά •
genitive μαβή • / μαβιού • μαβιάς • μαβιού • μαβιών • μαβιών • μαβιών •
accusative μαβή • μαβιά • μαβί • μαβιούς • μαβιές • μαβιά •
vocative μαβή • μαβιά • μαβί • μαβιοί • μαβιές • μαβιά •
derivations Comparative: πιο + positive forms (e.g. πιο μαβής, etc.)
Relative superlative: definite article + πιο + positive forms (e.g. ο πιο μαβής, etc.)

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 μαβής, in Λεξικό της κοινής νεοελληνικής , Triantafyllidis Foundation, 1998 at the Centre for the Greek language
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 μαβής - Babiniotis, Georgios (2010) Ετυμολογικό λεξικό της νέας ελληνικής γλώσσας Etymologikó lexikó tis néas ellinikís glóssas (in Greek), Athens: Lexicology Centre
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Zevgolis, Georgios, editor (1933), “μαβής”, in "Πρωΐας" Λεξικὸν τῆς Νέας Ἑλληνικῆς Γλώσσης (in Greek), volume 2, Athens: Πρωΐα (Proia)
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 The template Template:R:Dimitrakos 1964 does not use the parameter(s): 
    1=μαβύς
    Please see Module:checkparams for help with this warning.    Dimitrakos, Dimitrios B. (21964) Μέγα λεξικόν ὅλης τῆς Ἑλληνικῆς γλώσσης (in Greek), Athens: Hellenic Paideia 2nd edition in 15 vols. (abbreviations - of authors)
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 μαβής - Babiniotis, Georgios (2008) Λεξικό της νέας ελληνικής γλώσσας:  (in Greek), 3rd edition, Athens: Kentro Lexikologias , 1st edition 1998, →ISBN.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Kechagioglou, Georgios (2000) “Μαβής ουρανός, μαβιά θάλασσα, μαβιά μάτια. Η «ανακάλυψη» του ιώδους ή Περί της αχρωματοψίας σύγχρονων λεξικών στο γαλανό-γαλάζιο”, in Μικροφιλολογικά (in Greek), volume 7, Nicosia, pages 5-9
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Sarantakos, Nikos (2022 May 9) “Ποιο χρώμα είναι το μαβί;”, in Οι λέξεις έχουν τη δική τους ιστορία‎ (in Greek)
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