Plural form of canephor using Greek-style masculine plural '-i' ending; multiple male or general basket-bearers.
From Greek 'kanephos' (basket) plus 'phoros' (bearer), with Greek masculine plural '-oi' anglicized to '-i'. Represents scholarly borrowing directly from classical texts.
The '-i' plural survives in English for other Greek words like 'stimulus/stimuli'—it's the ghost of ancient Greek grammar rules haunting our modern English conversations.
Masculine plural form of kanephoroi, though the historical role was primarily female in Greek practice; the masculine form reflects grammatical convention rather than actual practice.
Specify 'historical female participants' when discussing actual ancient practice to correct implicit masculine bias.
["basket bearers","ceremonial participants","ritual carriers"]
The historical role was women's work; using masculine forms obscures women's actual ceremonial authority.
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