- βάσανος
- βάσανοςGrammatical information: f.Meaning: `touchstone, inquiry (by torture), agony' (Pi.).Derivatives: βασανίτης λίθος (H., cf. Redard Noms grecs en -της 53). Denom. βασανίζω `put to the test, inquire (by torture)' (Ion.-Att.).Origin: LW [a loanword which is (probably) not of Pre-Greek origin] Egypt. (Lyd.)Etymology: From Egypt. baḫan, a stone, used by the Egyptians as touchstone of gold. It came to Greece through Lydia (Λυδία λίθος B. 22); the σ for ḫ is unclear. Sethe BerlSb. 1933, 894ff.; Kretschmer Glotta 24, 90. - In Plin. 36, 58 basaniten became basalten by mistake, from where basalt originated, s. Niedermann Mus. Helv. 2, 127f.Page in Frisk: 1,222
Greek-English etymological dictionary (Ελληνικά-Αγγλικά ετυμολογική λεξικό). Robert S.P.. 2010.