English
ephelcystic nu
Ephelcystic nu comes from Ancient Greek ἐφελκῠστῐκός ‘attracted to’, and goes back to ἐφελκύω.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἐφελκύω‘to draw to oneself, appeal, attract’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἐφέλκυσιςephélkusis‘attraction, pull’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἐφελκῠστῐκόςephelkŭstĭkós‘attracted to’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEνῦ ἐφελκυστικόνliterally ‘attractive nu; dragged-in nu; affixed nu’
- Englishtodayephelcystic nu
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἐφελκύω‘to draw to oneself, appeal, attract’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἐφέλκυσιςephélkusis‘attraction, pull’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἐφελκῠστῐκόςephelkŭstĭkós‘attracted to’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEνῦ ἐφελκυστικόνliterally ‘attractive nu; dragged-in nu; affixed nu’
- Englishtodayephelcystic nu
The story
Shortened from earlier ἐφελκυστικόν τοῦ νῦ (ephelkustikón toû nû, literally “pulling in nu; attracting nu”), transferring the epithet to the letter nu itself.
Every English word from Ancient Greek ἐφελκύω
Today it means
noun Euphonic nu ⟨ν⟩ (n). Consonant ⟨ν⟩ affixed to vowel endings of some Ancient Greek grammatical forms to produce euphony: in prevocalic position, to avoid sounding two vowels in a row (hiatus), and prevent elision or fusion of vowels contracting into one sound (crasis). In preconsonantal coda position, ⟨ν⟩ may be added to create a long syllable in poetic meter. Nu is also usually written before a pa
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek ἐφελκύω / ephelcystic nu