clepsydra en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (Southern-England) audio
- /ˈklɛpsɪdɹə/
- klĕp'sĭdrə
Etymology
From Latin clepsydra, from Ancient Greek κλεψύδρα (klepsúdra), from κλέπτειν (kléptein, “to steal”) + ὕδωρ (húdōr, “water”).
Meanings
-
Synonym of water clock, especially (historical) ancient Greek and Roman forms.
"The dull, unflavoured drops from life's clepsydra".
1953, John Wyndham, The Kraken Wakes, page 124:They sat among the choiring clepsydras of the evening garden, time elapsing in a dozen ways, allowing their cigars to go out, keeping a companionable silence.
2006, Thomas Pynchon, Against the Day, Vintage, published 2007, page 856:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| clepsydras | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| klepsudra | alternative | lexicographic | |
| clepsydrae | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| klepsydra | alternative | lexicographic |
Deriveds
Synonyms
Translations (1)
es clepsidra (noun)