Brief Overview of ἀπολείχω (G621: Apoleíchō)

1. Brief Overview:

Transliteration: Apoleíchō

Root Words: Derived from ἀπό (apo), meaning “from” or “away from,” and λείχω (leíchō), meaning “to lick.” Thus, ἀπολείχω combines these to convey the sense of “licking away” or “to lick off.”

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Primary Meanings:

• To lick off or lick away.
• To remove or clean something by licking.
• To cleanse or purify through the action of licking.

2. Detailed Description:

BDAG (Bauer-Danker-Arndt-Gingrich): BDAG describes ἀπολείχω as “to lick off” or “to lick away,” emphasizing its use in contexts where licking is involved in the removal or cleaning process.

Thayer’s: Thayer’s Greek Lexicon defines ἀπολείχω as “to lick off,” highlighting its application in cleaning or removing by means of licking.

Vines: Vines’ Expository Dictionary notes that ἀπολείχω means “to lick off,” with a focus on the action of licking to remove or clean something.

LSJ (Liddell-Scott-Jones): LSJ defines ἀπολείχω as “to lick off,” detailing its use in contexts where licking is used to clean or remove substances.

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance: Strong’s defines ἀπολείχω as “to lick off,” consistent with its primary meaning of removing or cleaning by licking.

3. Usage in Classic Greek Literature:

Homer (Iliad, 8th century BCE): Homer uses related terms in contexts involving animals and their actions, including licking, though ἀπολείχω itself is not extensively documented in his texts.

Aristotle (History of Animals, 4th century BCE): Aristotle mentions the behavior of animals, including their licking habits, which may include actions akin to ἀπολείχω in the context of cleaning or removing substances.

Plato (Phaedo, 4th century BCE): Plato uses related terms in philosophical discussions, though direct references to ἀπολείχω are limited. The concept of cleaning or purifying can be metaphorically related to his ideas.

4. Summary:

The Greek word ἀπολείχω (Apoleíchō) means “to lick off” or “to lick away,” referring to the action of removing or cleaning something through licking. This term combines the concept of licking with the notion of removal or purification. Although its specific usage in classical literature is less documented, the term’s primary meaning is clear and related to the action of licking for cleaning purposes. This word illustrates a specialized aspect of physical interaction and purification processes in ancient Greek contexts.