Ancient Greek

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Etymology

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From στένω (sténō, to moan, lament) +‎ -άζω (-ázō, frequentative suffix).

Pronunciation

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Verb

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στενάζω (stenázō)

  1. (intransitive) to sigh, moan, wail
    • 472 BCE, Aeschylus, The Persians 1046–1047:
      Ξέρξης: ἔρεσσ’ ἔρεσσε καὶ στέναζ’ ἐμὴν χάριν.
      Χορός: αἰαῖ αἰαῖ, δύα δύα.
      Xérxēs: éress’ éresse kaì sténaz’ emḕn khárin.
      Khorós: aiaî aiaî, dúa dúa.
      Xerxes: Beat, beat and wail for my sake.
      Chorus: Ay, ay, woe, woe!
  2. (transitive) to bewail, lament

Usage notes

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In tragedy, this verb frequently occurs in close proximity to interjections like οἴμοι (oímoi, woe is me) and αἰαῖ (aiaî).

Conjugation

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Derived terms

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Further reading

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