adespoton
|a-des-po-ton|
C2
/əˈdɛspətɒn/
anonymous work
Etymology
Etymology Information
'adespoton' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'ἀδέσποτον', where 'ἀ-' meant 'not' and 'δέσποτον' meant 'master' or 'owner'.
Historical Evolution
'ἀδέσποτον' was used in ancient Greek to describe works without a known author, and eventually became the modern English term 'adespoton'.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'without a master or owner', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a work without a known author'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a term used in ancient Greek music to refer to a melody or song that is not attributed to any specific composer.
The piece was considered an adespoton, as its origins were unknown.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/05/07 00:21