lekythion

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noun

In classical Greek and Latin poetry, a metric pattern defined by a sequence of seven alternating long and short syllables at the end of a verse.

OriginAncient Greek ληκύθιον →
Scrabble 19
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Meanings

nounlekythion (plural lekythia)

plural lekythia · alternative lecythion

  1. communicationsIn classical Greek and Latin poetry, a metric pattern defined by a sequence of seven alternating long and short syllables at the end of a verse.

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekληκύθιον“small oil-flask”
  2. Englishlekythion

Borrowed from Ancient Greek ληκύθιον (lēkúthion, “small oil-flask”), in reference to a passage in Aristophanes' comedy The Frogs.

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

lekythion. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lekythion

MLA

“lekythion.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lekythion. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “lekythion,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lekythion.

Source: lekythion on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.