Learn Greek › B1 › έλλειψη
έλλειψη
deficiency, shortage /ˈe.lip.si/
nounB1#1433 most common
Also: lack, deficit (math/medicine), shortcoming, flaw
Example sentences
Έχει έλλειψη βιταμίνης D.
She has a vitamin D deficiency.
Υπάρχει έλλειψη νερού στο χωριό.
There is a water shortage in the village.
Η έλλειψη ύπνου τον κάνει νευρικό.
The lack of sleep makes him irritable.
Η κυβέρνηση παραδέχτηκε την έλλειψη σχεδιασμού.
The government admitted the lack of planning.
Λόγω έλλειψης προσωπικού, το κατάστημα κλείνει νωρίτερα.
Due to a staff shortage, the shop closes earlier.
Οι ελλείψεις στο νομικό πλαίσιο επιτρέπουν τέτοιες καταχρήσεις.
The gaps in the legal framework allow such abuses.
Declension
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | η έλλειψη | οι ελλείψεις |
| Genitive | της έλλειψης | των ελλείψεων |
| Accusative | την έλλειψη | τις ελλείψεις |
| Vocative | έλλειψη | ελλείψεις |
Word family
ελλιπήςdeficient, incomplete
λείπωto be missing, to be absentελλείπωto fall short, be lacking
καταλείπωto leave behind, abandon
Etymology
The word comes from the ancient Greek verb ελλείπω, meaning to fall short or be lacking, itself built from the prefix ἐν- (in) and the verb λείπω (to leave). The related mathematical term ellipse comes from the same root, because an ellipse was originally described as a conic section with a certain deficiency compared to a circle. Over centuries the noun έλλειψη kept its core sense of something missing or insufficient.
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