lyran
/ˈlyːran/
noun
Origin
Old Greek
λύρα (lýra) — a stringed musical instrument
Overview
Meaning Now
- The Swedish definite form of 'lyra', meaning 'the lyre' or 'the harp'.
Literal older meaning
the lyre
Language path
Old Greek → Latin → Old Swedish → Swedish
Earliest form
lyra
Earliest period
14th century
Journey
The lyre was a central instrument in Ancient Greek culture, and the term has been preserved in many Germanic languages via Latin. In Swedish, 'lyran' denotes the specific instrument associated with mythology, such as the lyre of Orpheus.
Evolution
- Old Greek
λύρα (lýra)
“lyre”
- Latin
lyra
“lyre”
- Old Swedish
lyra
“lyre”
- Modern Swedish
lyran
“the lyre”
Definite singular form with suffix -n
Connections
Word parts
lyr
root
lyre
-an
suffix
definite article suffix for common gender
Related across languages
English
a musical instrument
German
Leier
lyre or hurdy-gurdy
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Related to lyran
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.