Perispomenon

In Ancient Greek grammar, a perispomenon (περισπώμενον) is a word with a high-low pitch contour on the last syllable, indicated in writing by a circumflex accent mark. A properispomenon has the same kind of accent, but on the penultimate syllable.^[1]

Examples:

• θεοῦ, theoû, "of a god", is a perispomenon
• πρᾶξις prâxis "business" is a properispomenon

Etymology

Peri-spṓmenon means "pronounced with a circumflex",^[2] the neuter of the present passive participle of peri-spáō "pronounce with a circumflex" (also "draw off").^[3] Pro-peri-spṓmenon adds the prefix pró "before".^[4] περισπωμένη is the Greek name for the accent mark (⟨῀⟩).

See also

• Greek diacritics
  • Circumflex
• Pitch accent
• Ultima (linguistics)

References

1. Herbert Weir Smyth. Greek Grammar. paragraph 157.
2. περισπωμένως. Liddell, Henry George; Scott, Robert; A Greek–English Lexicon at the Perseus Project.
3. περισπάω in Liddell and Scott.
4. πρό in Liddell and Scott.