καθάπτω
katháptō
G2510 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To fasten or attach securely, to fix onto or bind to something (either physically by attachment or metaphorically in some contexts). The primary meaning is to make something adhere or cling to another object, most often with the sense of active attachment or fastening; it can occasionally carry the sense of seizing tightly or grasping.
Semantic Range
to fasten on, attach, bind onto, fix securely, seize or grasp tightly, affix
Root / Etymology
From κατά ('down, according to, against') and ἅπτω ('to fasten, bind, touch'). The compound intensifies the notion of binding or fastening, with κατά suggesting a downward motion or thoroughness in the act.
Historical & Contextual Notes
καθάπτω is rare in extant Greek literature and only occurs in late and Hellenistic sources, occasionally appearing in medical, mechanical, or technical texts for affixing or securing objects. In the Septuagint and Koine Greek, it is used with an emphasis on fastening, attaching, or tying something down or tight (e.g., tethering animals, fixing parts of structures). Unlike the simple ἅπτω, which can mean both 'touch' and 'light (a fire),' καθάπτω is more specific to the act of securely fastening or attaching. English translations may render it as 'fasten on,' 'attach,' or 'bind.' The nuance of intensity or completeness is more prominent in καθάπτω than in its unprefixed root. It is virtually absent in literary classical Greek and is more characteristic of post-classical and technical Greek. It does not generally carry religious or metaphorical senses; its use is predominantly physical and practical.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from κατά and ἅπτομαι; to seize upon:--fasten on.
Root Family
καθάπτω (kathaptō) — to fasten, to bind, to attach
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2510-01 |
καθῆψε | kathepse | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
fastened | he fastened on | he fastened on | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2510-01 |
Acts 28:3 | καθῆψε | kathepse | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
fastened | he fastened on | he fastened on |