δόστου

English translation: keep on, again and again

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)

Greek term or phrase:	δώστου
English translation:	keep on, again and again
Entered by:	Spiros Doikas

12:31 Nov 5, 2008

Greek to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Music / Song Lyric

Greek term or phrase: δόστου

Hi,

This appears in an old song:

δόστου κόψιμο ο πασάς

I see from the Web that it is still used, but it is not in my Greek dictionary.

Does it by any chance imply a kind of cynicism? We are, after all, talking about an extremely authoritarian and corrupt regime here.

What is its etymology, please? I believe that δός is the ancient version of δώσε (give!), but I'm really not sure of anything here. However, if I'm right about δός, then presumably δόστου = Give him!

Nevertheless, I don't think I have the whole picture by any means. For one thing, the rest of the grammar doesn't fit a simplistic interpretation.

All the best,

Simon

PS This is from a Greek translation of Chekhov:
Κάθε λίγο και λιγάκι, κάθε μισή ώρα δόστου και μας έπαιρνε ο ταγματάρχης στο τηλέφωνο και μας ζητούσε κυλίνδρους και άλλους κι άλλους κυλίνδρους.

SeiTT KudoZ activity Questions: 3738 (none open) (1 without valid answers) (9 closed without grading) Answers: 1 United Kingdom
Local time: 10:47

...kept calling us every half an hour...

Explanation:
literally it means "give him" (δώσε του). Here it is idiomatic, implying repetition.

Selected response from:

Spiros Doikas
Local time: 12:47

Grading comment

many thanks excellent
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

5 +5

keep on

Efi Maryeli (X)

4 +5

...kept calling us every half an hour...

Spiros Doikas

Answers

3 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +5

...kept calling us every half an hour...

Explanation:
literally it means "give him" (δώσε του). Here it is idiomatic, implying repetition.

Spiros Doikas
Local time: 12:47
Works in field
Native speaker of:

Greek
PRO pts in category: 4

Grading comment

many thanks excellent

1 hr confidence:

peer agreement (net): +5

keep on

Explanation:
the pashah kept on cutting (heads maybe?)

Efi Maryeli (X)
Greece
Local time: 12:47
Works in field
Native speaker of:

Greek

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δόστου

English translation: keep on, again and again

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δόστου

English translation: keep on, again and again

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