προξενέυω

English translation: promise/arrange

10:11 Oct 21, 2008

Greek to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature / Song Lyric

Greek term or phrase: προξενέυω

Hi,

I have in mind these two lines from Dario Fo, in their translation into Greek:

κορίτσια σαν τα κρύα τα νερά τού προξενέυουν
καί γυναίκες παντρεμένες αν το προτιμά

Now, I always thought that προξενέυω meant “to (seek to) arrange a marriage”, but I have my doubts here. True, in theory, the husbands of the married women could have been killed for this to happen, there being no divorce in Spain at the time, but I'm wondering if the meaning might not be different here.

All the best,

Simon

SeiTT KudoZ activity Questions: 3738 (none open) (1 without valid answers) (9 closed without grading) Answers: 1 United Kingdom
Local time: 18:27

English translation:promise/arrange

Explanation:
In the strict sense προξενέυω means to arrange a marriage. However, it has been generalized in its use as to promise/promise to arrange something. This is a word play on arranging an ellicit tryst with a married woman

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Note added at 11 mins (2008-10-21 10:23:16 GMT)
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meant illicit:)

Selected response from:

Michael Iakovides
Local time: 20:27

Grading comment

many thanks excellent
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

5 +3

promise/arrange

Michael Iakovides

5 +3

to intoduce you to sb, to fix you up with sb, to arrange a marriage

d_vachliot (X)

to do mathchmaking

Krisztina Lelik

Answers

11 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +3

promise/arrange

Michael Iakovides
Local time: 20:27
Native speaker of:

Greek,

English
PRO pts in category: 8

Grading comment

many thanks excellent

21 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +3

to intoduce you to sb, to fix you up with sb, to arrange a marriage

Explanation:
Yes,

it usually means to arrange a marriage, but sometimes, depending on the context it can also mean "to introduce you to someone" or "to fix you up with someone."

For example, "μου προξενεύει την ξαδέρφη της" = She's trying to fix me up with her cousin.

d_vachliot (X)
Local time: 20:27
Works in field
Native speaker of:

Greek
PRO pts in category: 12

2 hrs confidence:

to do mathchmaking

Explanation:
"matchmake" also exists as a verb but is not frequently used.

Verb
Infinitive
to matchmake
Third person singular
matchmakes
Present participle
matchmaking

to matchmake (third-person singular simple present matchmakes, present participle matchmaking, simple past and past participle (?))
1. to do matchmaking, to set up a date between two people or to arrange a marriage
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/matchmake

Matchmaking is any process of introducing people for the purposes of dating and mating, usually in the context of marriage.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matchmaking

As the artcicle says mathchmaking is usually (but not necessarily) in the context of marriage.

Example:
EI specialises in matchmaking women from the former Soviet Union with North American men online. The firm denied any wrongdoing and its ...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4026511.stm - 33k -

Krisztina Lelik
Greece
Local time: 20:27
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

Hungarian

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προξενέυω

English translation: promise/arrange

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