English
semantron
Semantron comes from Ancient Greek σήμαντρον ‘a seal, signet, in MGr. a semantron’, from σῆμα ‘mark, sign’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *dʰyéh₂mn̥.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*dʰyéh₂mn̥reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEσῆμαsêma‘mark, sign’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEσημαίνεινsēmaínein‘to show by a sign, signify, in MGr. strike a semantron’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEσήμαντρονsḗmantron‘a seal, signet, in MGr. a semantron’
- Englishtodaysemantron
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*dʰyéh₂mn̥reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEσῆμαsêma‘mark, sign’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEσημαίνεινsēmaínein‘to show by a sign, signify, in MGr. strike a semantron’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEσήμαντρονsḗmantron‘a seal, signet, in MGr. a semantron’
- Englishtodaysemantron
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *dʰyéh₂mn̥
through Ancient Greek σῆμα ‘mark, sign’
Today it means
noun A percussion instrument used chiefly in Eastern Orthodox monasteries to summon the brethren to prayer or to lead processions.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *dʰyéh₂mn̥ / semantron