ἀπολείχω
apoleíchō
G621
SILEX Entry
Definition
To lick off or lick clean, usually referring to an act of using the tongue to remove a substance from a surface. In both literal contexts (such as an animal or person licking up liquids or residues) and occasionally with metaphorical extension of thorough removal or consumption.
Semantic Range
to lick off, to lick clean, to remove by licking, (rare: to consume thoroughly by licking)
Root / Etymology
ἀπολείχω derives from the prepositional prefix ἀπό (from, away from, off) and the verb λείχω (to lick), forming a compound which means 'to lick off' or 'to lick away.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
Attested very rarely in extant Greek sources. In the Septuagint (e.g., 1 Kings 21:19, 24, 25: 'the dogs will lick your blood'), ἀπολείχω is used to translate biblical Hebrew לקק (lāqaq, to lick). This usage conveys a thorough removal, as when a substance (water, blood) is entirely licked up by an animal. The term does not appear with significant metaphorical frequency in contemporary secular Greek, remaining primarily in literal or vivid descriptive contexts. English translations often simply use 'lick,' though the Greek compounds stress the complete or clean nature of the action implied by the prefix ἀπό. Contrast with λείχω, the simpler form meaning 'to lick' in general, without emphasizing removal or thoroughness.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἀπό and (to "lick"); to lick clean:--lick.
Word Forms
0 distinct forms
No word forms found for this Strong's number.
Occurrences in Scripture
0 occurrences
No occurrences found.