λιγοστός

Greek

Etymology

From Medieval Byzantine Greek λιγοστός or ὀλιγοστός from the ancient Ancient Greek ὀλιγοστός (oligostós), with omission of <ο>, percieved as an article (ὁ).[1]. Also see λίγος (lígos).

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /liɣoˈstos/
  • Hyphenation: λι‧γo‧στός

Adjective

λιγοστός • (ligostós) m (feminine λιγοστή, neuter λιγοστό)

  1. scarce, meagre, short
    • 1942 (composed), Seferis, Giorgos Ημερολόγιο Καταστρώματος, Β΄. Ένας γέροντας στην ακροποταμιά [Logbook II. From poem: An old man at the riverbank] (bilngual @books.google Translated by Edmund Keeley, Philip Sherrard) retr:2018.09.20. :
      κι είναι καιρός να πούμε τα λιγοστά μας λόγια γιατί η ψυχή μας αύριο κάνει πανιά.
      ki eínai kairós na poúme ta ligostá mas lógia giatí i psychí mas ávrio kánei paniá.
      and it's time to say our few words because tomorrow our soul sets sail.
    Ὢ λιγοστοὶ κι ὢ διαλεχτοὶ κι ἀρίφνητοι αὔριο ἴσως!
    Ὢ ligostoὶ ki ὢ dialechtoὶ ki ἀrífnitoi aὔrio ἴsos!
    O you the few, the chosen you, or countless of tomorrow!
    1900-1904 (composed) Kostis Palamas Ασάλευτη ζωή [from poem: The Motionless Life.] (@greek-language.gr (in Greek) retr:2018.09.20.
    Λίγα ήταν τα χρήματά του, λιγοστό το φαΐ, πενιχρό το γεύμα του.
    Líga ítan ta chrímatá tou, ligostó to faḯ, penichró to gévma tou.
    His money was little, the food was few, poor was his meal.

Usage notes

The difference of λιγοστός and the synonym λίγος is stylistic. λίγος is the common word for 'few'; λιγοστός is used less frequently, stressing scarceness, in a more poetic way. Compare to the Shakespearean We happy few. Synonym πενιχρός (penichrós) stresses the lack, the poor condition.

Declension

For degrees of comparions. see λίγος.

declension of λιγοστός
number 
case / gender 		 singular plural
masculine feminine neuter masculine feminine neuter
nominative λιγοστός λιγοστή λιγοστό λιγοστοί λιγοστές λιγοστά
genitive λιγοστού λιγοστής λιγοστού λιγοστών λιγοστών λιγοστών
accusative λιγοστό λιγοστή λιγοστό λιγοστούς λιγοστές λιγοστά
vocative λιγοστέ λιγοστή λιγοστό λιγοστοί λιγοστές λιγοστά
derivations comparative: πιο (pio) + positive forms (e.g. πιο λιγοστός, etc.)
relative superlative: definite article + πιο (pio) + positive forms (e.g. ο πιο λιγοστός (o pio ligostós), etc.)

Synonyms
  • λίγος (lígos, “few, little”), ολίγος (olígos)
  • πενιχρός (penichrós, “meagre, poor, needy”)

Antonyms
  • πολύς (polýs, “a lot of”)
  • άφθονος (áfthonos, “abundant”)

See also

References
  1. λιγοστός in Λεξικό της κοινής νεοελληνικής [Dictionary of Standard Modern Greek], 1998, by the "Triantafyllidis" Foundation.
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