χύτραν ποικίλλω

Ancient Greek

Etymology

From χύτρα (khútra, “earthen pot, pipkin”) (Modern χύτρα (chýtra, “stewpot, cauldron”)) and ποικίλλω (poikíllō, “decorate, embellish, embroider”).

Pronunciation

 

• IPA^(key): /kʰý.traːn poi̯.kíl.lɔː/ → /ˈçy.tran pyˈcil.lo/ → /ˈçi.tran piˈci.lo/

• (5^th BCE Attic) IPA^(key): /kʰý.traːn poi̯.kíl.lɔː/
• (1^st CE Egyptian) IPA^(key): /ˈkʰy.tran pyˈkil.lo/
• (4^th CE Koine) IPA^(key): /ˈçy.tran pyˈcil.lo/
• (10^th CE Byzantine) IPA^(key): /ˈçy.tran pyˈcil.lo/
• (15^th CE Constantinopolitan) IPA^(key): /ˈçi.tran piˈci.lo/

Verb

χῠ́τρᾱν ποικῐ́λλω • (khútrān poikíllō)

1. to do something useless and inconsequential; inessential, uncalled-for and gratuitous
2. to do something unceasingly

Usage notes

χύτραν is in the accusative singular form of χύτρα. Used mostly in the second person of the singular: χύτραν ποικίλλεις.

See also

• πλίνθον πλίνειν (plínthon plínein)
• εἰς ὕδωρ γράφειν (eis húdōr gráphein)
• Αἰθίοπα λευκαίνειν (Aithíopa leukaínein)
• κατὰ θαλάττης σπείρειν (katà thaláttēs speírein)
• εἰς κόπρον ἀναθυμιᾶν (eis kópron anathumiân)

References

• Scholia In Aristophanem, Scholia in ranas (scholia vetera) Argumentum-scholion, v. 186.
• Scholia In Aristophanem, Scholia in vespas (scholia vetera, recentiora Tricliniana et Aldina) Argumentum-dramatis personae-scholion, v. 280b.