κάμπτω

Alternative forms

• γνάμπτω (gnámptō) – Homeric, only in compounds in tmesis
• καμπύλλω (kampúllō) – Ionic

Etymology

Possibly related to Latin campus and Lithuanian kampas, kumpas. Beekes argues for a Pre-Greek origin.

Pronunciation

Verb

κάμπτω • (kámptō)

1. I bend, curve
   • 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Iliad 4.486

     ὄφρα ἴτυν κάμψῃ περικαλλέϊ δίφρῳ

     óphra ítun kámpsēi perikalléï díphrōi

     in order that he might bend himself a felloe for a beauteous chariot

   1. (figuratively)
      • 522 BCE – 443 BCE, Pindar, Pythian Ode 2.51

        θεός, ὃ […] καὶ ὑψιφρόνων τιν᾽ ἔκαμψε βροτῶν

        theós, hò […] kaì hupsiphrónōn tin᾽ ékampse brotôn

        the gods, who […] bend down many a man who is overly ambitious

      • 366 BCE – 348 BCE, Plato, Theaetetus 173b

        τρεπόμενοι πολλὰ κάμπτονται καὶ συγκλῶνται

        trepómenoi pollà kámptontai kaì sunklôntai

        so that they become greatly bent and stunted

2. (transitive, intransitive) I turn
   • 497 BCE – 405 BCE, Sophocles, Electra 744

     ἔπειτα λύων ἡνίαν ἀριστερὰν κάμπτοντος ἵππου

     épeita lúōn hēnían aristeràn kámptontos híppou

     But then he slackened his left rein while the horse was turning

   1. (figuratively)
      • 406 BCE, Sophocles, Oedipus at Colonus 91

        ἐνταῦθα κάμψειν τὸν ταλαίπωρον βίον

        entaûtha kámpsein tòn talaípōron bíon

        there I should close my weary life

      • 423 BCE, Euripides, The Suppliants 748

        ἔχουσαι διὰ λόγου κάμψαι κακά

        ékhousai dià lógou kámpsai kaká

        though you might by parley end your ills

      • 5th century BC, Pherecrates, Collected Works 145.15
3. (nautical) I double (sail around)
   • 460 BCE – 420 BCE, Herodotus, Histories 4.42.4

     τρίτῳ ἔτεϊ κάμψαντες Ἡρακλέας στήλας ἀπίκοντο ἐς Αἴγυπτον

     trítōi éteï kámpsantes Hērakléas stḗlas apíkonto es Aígupton

     it was in the third [year] that they doubled the pillars of Heracles and came to Egypt