amphora
/ˈæm(p).fɚ.ə/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: 2.21 in modern English
14
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
3
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A large, two-handled vessel, especially a thin-necked clay vat used in ancient Greece and Rome for storing and transporting wine and oil.
noun
A Roman unit of liquid measure reckoned as the volume of 80 Roman pounds of wine and equivalent to about 26 L although differing slightly over time.
noun
A lower valve of a fruit that opens transversely.
Example Sentences
- "By concurrent use of panel decoration and concentric-circle ornament, and by free employment of red paint, the fully developed style of the Geometric Period attains a wide range of rich and elaborate effects. These are best displayed on the necks and shoulders of the very large amphorai which are characteristic of this period."
- "A complete set for a ten-man symposion (an ordinary size) with ten deep cups, ten shallow cups, two mixing-bowls, two wine-jugs, two hydriai, two amphorai would cost in the neighbourhood of forty drachmai, and that would not be an unreasonable price for a rich man for a special occasion."
- "Traditionally, the style of an artefact has been separated from its function. Thus, the function of a Greek pot – defined in terms of whether it was intended for transportation (hydriai or large amphorai), storage (pithoi and some kraters), distribution (oinokhoai) or consumption (cups, skyphoi and plates) – tends to be treated separately from any painted decoration on its surface."
Etymology
From Latin amphora (“large wine vessel, Roman unit of liquid measure”), from Ancient Greek ἀμφορεύς (amphoreús, “two-handled pitcher, Greek units of liquid measure”), ultimately from Mycenaean Greek 𐀀𐀠𐀡𐀩𐀸 (a-pi-po-re-we, “carried on both sides”).
Origin
- Source language: Latin
Word Breakdown
- Root: amphora, ἀμφορεύς, 𐀀𐀠𐀡𐀩𐀸
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈæm(p).fɚ.ə/
- British English: /ˈæm.fə.ɹə/
Subject
Wiktionary places this term in Medicine.
Inflected Forms
Derived Forms
Phrases
French amphora
Greek amphora
Roman amphora
amphora quadrantal