σμῆμα

Ancient Greek

Alternative forms

σμῆγμα (smêgma)

Etymology

From σμάω (smáō, “I wipe, I cleanse”) and the suffix -μα (-ma).

Compare typologically ῥύμμα (rhúmma) < ῥύπτω (rhúptō, “to cleanse, to wash”). Also compare Russian мы́ло (mýlo) akin to мыть (mytʹ). Also compare English lye << Proto-Indo-European *lewh₃-.

Pronunciation

(5^th BCE Attic) IPA^(key): /zmɛ̂ː.ma/
(1^st CE Egyptian) IPA^(key): /ˈzme̝.ma/
(4^th CE Koine) IPA^(key): /ˈzmi.ma/
(10^th CE Byzantine) IPA^(key): /ˈzmi.ma/
(15^th CE Constantinopolitan) IPA^(key): /ˈzmi.ma/

Noun

σμῆμα • (smêma) n (genitive σμήμᾰτος); third declension

soap; a substance for cleaning and degreasing

Inflection

Third declension of τὸ σμῆμᾰ; τοῦ σμήμᾰτος (Attic)

Case / #	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	τὸ σμῆμᾰ tò smêmă	τὼ σμήμᾰτε tṑ smḗmăte	τᾰ̀ σμήμᾰτᾰ tằ smḗmătă
Genitive	τοῦ σμήμᾰτος toû smḗmătos	τοῖν σμημᾰ́τοιν toîn smēmắtoin	τῶν σμημᾰ́των tôn smēmắtōn
Dative	τῷ σμήμᾰτῐ tōî smḗmătĭ	τοῖν σμημᾰ́τοιν toîn smēmắtoin	τοῖς σμήμᾰσῐ / σμήμᾰσῐν toîs smḗmăsĭ(n)
Accusative	τὸ σμῆμᾰ tò smêmă	τὼ σμήμᾰτε tṑ smḗmăte	τᾰ̀ σμήμᾰτᾰ tằ smḗmătă
Vocative	σμῆμᾰ smêmă	σμήμᾰτε smḗmăte	σμήμᾰτᾰ smḗmătă
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For declension in other dialects, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal declension.