Εντριβής -> versed in, with a profound knowledge of

[Kennedy]

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Hello all.

Recently I was looking for a word for "versed" (or "proficient") in Modern Greek. Consulting the Magenta (electronic) dictionary I had at hand I found the word "εντριβής" (it read: "versed in chemistry - εντριβής στη χημεία"). However, when I used the word, my (Greek) friends were baffled and said such a word do not exist in Greek. Confused, I googled it and, to my surprise, found 0 occurrences. When typed without the accent (εντριβης) I do get one (1) result, but it's the word used in the genitive. I tried looking up the word in my modest Greek-Greek dictionary and I did find the word "εντριβή". I quote:

εντριβή η· τρίψιμο του σώματος με αλοιφή ή φάρμακο.

In other words: nothing to do with "versed" or "proficient". I got my Greek<>English dictionary (the bulky Hyper Lexicon) and only found "εντριβή" as well: "n. 1. massage, rubbing; 2. (φάρμακο) embrocation."

So now I am wondering: what's the deal with Magenta? Is it a typo? Did it invent a new word? Is it an ancient term? Or am I going crazy? :-) Plausible explications, anyone? :-)

[wings]

Hi Ken.

This is NOT a typo.

In MEIZON ΝΕΟΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΟ ΛΕΞΙΚΟ (ΜΕΛ):
Εντριβής = αυτός που έχει τριβή, πείρα σε κάτι, πεπειραμένος, ειδικός σε κάτι

However, this is not a very common word in Modern Greek, so I suppose you'd better use:  καταρτισμένος, με βαθιά γνώση κάποιου θέματος

[Kennedy]

I love this forum. :-D

Thanks a lot, wings. :-))

[banned8]

It's just one of those beautiful Greek words that have always been used by learned Greeks. Google hits will come up if you look for it in the plural: εντριβείς.

[wings]

Νίκο, δεν εμφανίζεται πάντως η λέξη ούτε στο ΛΚΝ ούτε στου Κριαρά - δεν ξέρω αν την αναφέρει ο Μπαμπινιώτης.

[banned8]

Ναι, δεν υπάρχει μόνο στο Μείζον, αλλά και στον Μπαμπινιώτη (το μεγάλο, φυσικά):

(λόγιο, σπάνιο) έμπειρος, εξασκημένος.

[wings]

Υπόσχομαι ότι θα αγοράσω το λεξικό του Μπαμπινιώτη σύντομα (με σχετικό σπαραγμό ψυχής) για να μη σε ζαλίζω.:-)

[Marisa_R_C]

Γεια σας... φταίω εγώ τώρα που το "εντριβής" μου θυμίζει εντριβές;;;;;;

Είναι πολύ σπάνιας χρήσης λέξη ή μου φαίνεται;

Θα προτιμούσα το "έχει εντρυφήσει" ή το άλλα συνώνυμα του - "καταρτισμένος", "μυημένος" , "γνώστης", "αυθεντία" και άλλα που δεν μούρχονται στα γρήγορα.

[banned8]

Yes, right, we have probably gone off topic here, in my enthusiasm of hearing 'εντριβής' after such a long time -- though the topic itself seems to have changed even in the title.

First of all, εντριβής as it is (rarely) used today, is probably the equivalent of 'proficient', good for degrees and certificates.

The original request was the other way round. Ken was looking for a translation for 'versed'. Thanks, Marisa, for putting us back on track.

[wings]

Hello all.

Recently I was looking for a word for "versed" (or "proficient") in Modern Greek. Consulting the Magenta (electronic) dictionary I had at hand I found the word "εντριβής" (it read: "versed in chemistry - εντριβής στη χημεία").

No, Nickel. We did not go off topic at all.