Glossary entry

Greek term or phrase:

αητονυχάτος

English translation:

eagle-clawed

Added to glossary by J A Lawrence
Nov 13, 2011 17:19
12 yrs ago
Greek term

αητονυχάτος

Greek to English Art/Literary Poetry & Literature
poetic Dance review
"ένας αητονυχάτος άνεμος.."
Proposed translations (English)
4 eagle-clawed

Discussion

J A Lawrence (asker) Nov 13, 2011:
Thank you all for this discussion. The bit is only a few words long- I think they are trying to say she dances as though there is a sharp wind at her heels: "Διότι - ένας αητονυχάτος άνεμος φυσάει ... τα πόδια της..." (Elisions from the original, not my omissions)
Thanks again.
Epameinondas Soufleros Nov 13, 2011:
Αητός/αϊτός = αετός It is in no way related to αήττητος. One possible interpretation of the metaphor is that the dancer has his/her fingers curled and s/he is moving swiftly on the floor.
Dave Bindon Nov 13, 2011:
Can we have more of the text please? I know you've said that there isn't much, but every little helps...maybe.
Philip Lees Nov 13, 2011:
Mix up Looks to me as if the writer is mixing up αήττητος and νυχάτος. Not very successfully, either.
Dave Bindon Nov 13, 2011:
Eagle-clawed has nothing to do with it, in my opinion. I'm wondering ιf the author is playing with αετονύχης? http://www.komvos.edu.gr/dictonlineplsql/simple_search.displ...

Although I still don't see how that relates to dance!
J A Lawrence (asker) Nov 13, 2011:
er..till it makes sense? It's a very brief quotation which means every word counts.. a dancer, eagle-clawed? Hmmm....
Dave Bindon Nov 13, 2011:
How... ...poetic are you being with the translation?

Proposed translations

14 mins
Selected

eagle-clawed

"eagle-clawed wind" / "sharp wind" / "strong wind"

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Note added at 32 mins (2011-11-13 17:51:36 GMT)
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Here are some hits I got from the Web for "eagle-clawed wind":

(1)
"A farm woodpile, neatly racked up and braced against the prowling, sharp-clawed wind, is pure luxury."
— Source: http://primquilter.diaryland.com/050112_66.html

(2)
"As sightless as the ewe dead by the gate,
the glass restrains the hungry dark.
The sharp-clawed wind that tears the crows to shreds
these stones do not have nerves to feel."
— Source: http://www.hitchingstone.co.uk/id7.html

(3)
"Lex grit his teeth and cursed Dad for forcing this Gotham trip on him. His black wool coat and bruise colored shirt complimented the gritty gray street he stood on, he danced to the side to let a sharp clawed wind dash trash against whatever stopped it in it's free-wheeling journey."
— Source: http://smallville.slashdom.net/archive/42/dispater.html

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Note added at 34 mins (2011-11-13 17:53:35 GMT)
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One alternative wording, which alters the metaphor a bit is "razor-sharp wind". This phrase seems to be much more frequent, but I would still prefer "eagle-clawed".
Note from asker:
Thanks for all the cool input. Still musing...
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "thanks!"
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