ξε-

Greek

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kse/

Etymology 1

Byzantine Greek ἐξε- (exe-) (example, the verb ἐξεκαθαρίζω (exekatharízō) > Greek ξεκαθαρίζω (xekatharízo)). The form from Ancient Greek ἐκ- (ek-), ἐξ- (ex-), through metanalysis with the temporal augment -ε- (-e-):

Ancient ἐκγράφω (ekgráphō), aorist indicative ἐξέγραψα (exégrapsa) becomes Modern ξέγραψα (xégrapsa), backformed present ξεγράφω (xegráfo)

Doublet of εκ- (ek-).

Alternative forms

• ξ- (x-) (before [a], but also other vowels)
• ξέ- (xé-)

Prefix

ξε-, ξέ- or ξ- • (xe-, xé- or x-)

1. un-, de- (expressing the opposite, cancellation or removal of a condition)

   ‎ξε- (xe-) + ‎κλειδώνω (kleidóno, “to lock”) → ‎ξεκλειδώνω (xekleidóno, “unlock”)

   ‎ξε- (xe-) + ‎μεθάω (metháo, “get drunk”) → ‎ξεμεθάω (xemetháo, “sober up”)

   ‎ξε- (xe-) + ‎καρφώνω (karfóno, “to nail”) → ‎ξεκαρφώνω (xekarfóno, “unnail”)

   ‎ξε- (xe-) + ‎ιδρώνω (idróno, “sweat”) → ‎ξεϊδρώνω (xeïdróno, “unsweat”)

   ‎ξε- (xe-) + ‎παπάς (papás, “priest”) → ‎ξέπαπας (xépapas, “defrocked priest”)

   compare to Όποιος παπάς ξεπαπάς κι αν έρθει στο χωριό, εγώ δεν πάω στην εκκλησία. ― Ópoios papás xepapás ki an érthei sto chorió, egó den páo stin ekklisía. ― Whoever priest and no/again priest comes to the village, I' m not going to church.

2. totally (intensifying)

   ‎ξε- (xe-) + ‎κουφαίνω (koufaíno, “deafen”) → ‎ξεκουφαίνω (xekoufaíno, “deafen completely”)

3. (subtraction little by little, or secretive sense)

   ‎ξε- (xe-) + ‎μακραίνω (makraíno, “distance myself”) → ‎ξεμακραίνω (xemakraíno, “distance myself little by little”)

Etymology 2

ξε- based on pairs of opposite verbs like κλειδώνω (kleidóno, “lock”) - ξεκλειδώνω (xekleidóno, “unlock”)

Alternative forms

• ξ- (x-) (before [a], but also other vowels)

Prefix

ξε- or ξ- • (xe- or x-) (without recessive accent)

1. (colloquial) (expressing objection, indifference; attached before any repeated word at occasional compounding or set phrases)

   ‎ξε- (xe-) + ‎μα (ma, “but”) → ‎ξεμά (xemá, “not but”)

   ‎ξ- (x-) + ‎είπα (eípa, “I said”) → ‎ξείπα (xeípa, “and again 'I said'”)

   Τι ωραία ξεωραία μου λες; Την είδα και είναι άσχημη.

   Ti oraía xeoraía mou les? Tin eída kai eínai áschimi.

   What 'beautiful' and 'beautiful' you are telling me! I saw her and she is ugly.

   Covid ξεcovid, πρέπει να πάω στη δουλειά

   Covid xecovid, prépei na páo sti douleiá

   Covid or no covid, I have to go to work.

   Όποιος παπάς ξεπαπάς κι αν έρθει στο χωριό, εγώ δεν πάω στην εκκλησία.

   Ópoios papás xepapás ki an érthei sto chorió, egó den páo stin ekklisía.

   Whoever priest and no/again priest comes to the village, I' m not going to church.

   compare to παπάς (papás, “priest”), ξέπαπας (xépapas, “defrocked priest”)

Synonyms

• μ- (m-) as in ξανά μανά (xaná maná)

Derived terms

expressions with και (kai, “and”)

• μα και ξεμά (ma kai xemá)
• μπα και ξεμπά (ba kai xempá /⁠bá ce ksebá⁠/)

Derived terms

• Greek terms prefixed with ξε-
  or ξέ-
• Greek terms prefixed with ξ-