λαβύρινθος

Ancient Greek

Etymology

Unknown, but Proto-Hellenic *dabúrintʰos can be reconstructed;[1] likely Pre-Greek (whence Mycenaean Greek 𐀅𐀢𐀪𐀵𐀍 (da-pu-ri-to-jo)). Possibly from Lydian 𐤩𐤠𐤡𐤭𐤧𐤳 (labrys, double-edged axe), a royal symbol, as λαβύρινθος (labúrinthos) supposedly originally referred to a Minoan palace on Crete.[2] See also λάβρυς (lábrus, axe) and λαύρα (laúra, lane, passage).

Pronunciation

 

Noun

λᾰβῠ́ρῐνθος (labúrinthos) m (genitive λᾰβῠρῐ́νθου); second declension

  1. labyrinth, a building composed of numerous winding halls
  2. something obscure, inscrutable
  3. coil, tangle

Inflection

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
  2. LABYRINTHUS in William Smith et al., editor (1890) A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, London: William Wayte. G. E. Marindin

Greek

Noun

λαβύρινθος (lavýrinthos) m (plural λαβύρινθοι)

  1. maze, labyrinth
  2. (anatomy) labyrinth (part of inner ear)

Declension

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