ὀσφραίνομαι

Ancient Greek

Etymology

It is widely agreed that the initial syllable contains a zero grade s-stem from Proto-Indo-European *h₃ed-. Compare Ancient Greek ὄζω (ózō). Cognates include Latin odor and Lithuanian úosti.

Karl Brugmann connects it with Sanskrit घ्रा (ghrā, to smell, perceive odor).

Alternatively, Seebold compares the root to Old English brǣþ (smell; steam), whence English breath.

Pronunciation

 

Verb

ὀσφραίνομαι • (osphraínomai)

  1. to smell
  2. (figurative) to get scent of

Inflection

Further reading