# μαβής
## Greek
### Etymology

From Ottoman Turkish ماوی (mavi, “blue, watery”), ultimately from Arabic ماء (māʔ, “water”).

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /maˈvis/

### Adjective

μαβής • (mavís) m (feminine μαβιά, neuter μαβί)
* (dated, poetic) azure, navy blue, dark blue (literary use especially in reference to the sky, sea, or eyes)
    Synonyms: λουλακής (loulakís), βαθυγάλαζος (vathygálazos)
** 1915, Constantine P. Cavafy, Θάλασσα του πρωϊού‎:θάλασσας του πρωιού κι ανέφελου ουρανού λαμπρά μαβιάthálassas tou proïoú ki anéfelou ouranoú lamprá maviábright azures of morning sea and cloudless sky
** 1914, Constantine P. Cavafy, Μακριά‎:Μόλις θυμούμαι πια τα μάτια· ήσαν, θαρρώ, μαβιά… Α ναι, μαβιά· ένα σαπφείρινο μαβί.Mólis thymoúmai pia ta mátia; ísan, tharró, maviá… A nai, maviá; éna sapfeírino maví.I barely remember the eyes now; they were, I gather, dark blue… Ah, yes, dark blue; sapphire blue.
* (colloquial) violet, mauve, dark purple
    Synonyms: μενεξεδής (menexedís), μοβ (mov)

#### Usage notes

A semantic shift of the colour denoted by the word appears to have occurred in the second half of the 20th century. Earlier (pre-WWII) dictionaries give the meaning exclusively as "dark blue" (cf. Modern Turkish mavi (“blue”)). This is supported by the common use in concurrent literature (see Cavafy quotes). However, starting from the 1950-60s the second meaning of "mauve, dark purple" appears in major dictionaries. According to Sarantakos this is perhaps due to diminishing contact and understanding of the Turkish language, where the term originates, and the semantic influence of phonetically similar μοβ (mov) (from French mauve). Nowadays, discrepancies are found among major dictionaries; some sources note both meanings, while others only include "mauve, dark purple", indicating the dominance of the latter in colloquial speech.

#### Declension

Derivations: Comparative: πιο + positive forms (e.g. πιο μαβής, etc.) Relative superlative: definite article + πιο + positive forms (e.g. ο πιο μαβής, etc.)

#### References

* 1 2 3 μαβής, in Λεξικό της κοινής νεοελληνικής [Dictionary of Standard Modern Greek], Triantafyllidis Foundation, 1998 at the Centre for the Greek language
* 1 2 μαβής - Babiniotis, Georgios (2010) Ετυμολογικό λεξικό της νέας ελληνικής γλώσσας Etymologikó lexikó tis néas ellinikís glóssas [Etymological Dictionary of Modern Greek language] (in Greek), Athens: Lexicology Centre
* 1 2 Zevgolis, Georgios, editor (1933), “μαβής”, in "Πρωΐας" Λεξικὸν τῆς Νέας Ἑλληνικῆς Γλώσσης [Proia Dictionary of the Modern Greek Language] (in Greek), volume 2, Athens: Πρωΐα (Proia)
* 1 2 3 "μαβύς" - Dimitrakos, Dimitrios B. ($^2$1964) Μέγα λεξικόν ὅλης τῆς Ἑλληνικῆς γλώσσης [Great Dictionary of the entire Greek Language] (in Greek), Athens: Hellenic Paideia 2nd edition in 15 vols. [1st edition 1930-1950 in 9 volumes] (abbreviations - of authors)
* 1 2 3 μαβής - Babiniotis, Georgios (2008) Λεξικό της νέας ελληνικής γλώσσας: […] [Dictionary of Modern Greek (language)] (in Greek), 3rd edition, Athens: Kentro Lexikologias [Lexicology Centre], 1st edition 1998, →ISBN.
* 1 2 3 Kechagioglou, Georgios (2000) “Μαβής ουρανός, μαβιά θάλασσα, μαβιά μάτια. Η «ανακάλυψη» του ιώδους ή Περί της αχρωματοψίας σύγχρονων λεξικών στο γαλανό-γαλάζιο ["Mavis" sky, "mavia" sea, "mavia" eyes. The "discovery" of violet or On the colour blindness of modern dictionaries regarding azures]”, in Μικροφιλολογικά [Mikrofilologika] (in Greek), volume 7, Nicosia, pages 5-9
* 1 2 3 Sarantakos, Nikos (2022 May 9) “Ποιο χρώμα είναι το μαβί; [Which colour is "mavi"?]”, in Οι λέξεις έχουν τη δική τους ιστορία‎ (in Greek)