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What is the pronunciation and etymology of the term Achilles tendon?
Achilles tendon (n.) Earlier Achilles’ sinew, from Modern Latin chorda Achillis, coined 1693 by Dutch anatomist Philip Verheyden when dissecting his own amputated leg. Hence figurative use of heel of Achillies for “vulnerable spot” (1810).
What is the etymology of Achilles?
Greek hero of the Trojan War stories, bravest, swiftest, and handsomest of Agamemnon’s army before Troy, he was son of Thetis and Peleus. His name is perhaps a compound of akhos “pain, grief” (see awe) + laos “the people, a people” (see lay (adj.)); or else it is from Pre-Greek (non-IE). Related: Achillean.
Is Achilles tendon capitalized?
No apostrophe for Achilles tendon, which connects the back of the heel to the calf muscles. But: Achilles’ heel for a vulnerable spot. Why is Achilles the tendon always capitalized.
What does Achilles mean in Greek?
In Greek mythology, Achilles ( ə-KIL-eez) or Achilleus (Ancient Greek: Ἀχιλλεύς, [a. Alluding to these legends, the term “Achilles’ heel” has come to mean a point of weakness, especially in someone or something with an otherwise strong constitution. The Achilles tendon is also named after him due to these legends.
What kind of name is Achilles?
The name Achilles is primarily a male name of Greek origin that means Pain. May be from the Greek word ‘achos’ which means “pain” or from the name of the Achelous River. Greek legend character from Homer’s ‘Iliad,’ killed by an arrow to the heel.
Is it Achilles or Achilles Heel?
An Achilles’ heel (or Achilles heel) is a weakness in spite of overall strength, which can lead to downfall. While the mythological origin refers to a physical vulnerability, idiomatic references to other attributes or qualities that can lead to downfall are common.
Is my Achilles heel?
The Achilles tendon is the largest tendon in your body. It stretches from the bones of your heel to your calf muscles. You can feel it: a springy band of tissue at the back of your ankle and above your heel.