Hippogriff
The hippogriff is officially an animal that’s half griffin & half horse. However, horses are usually grammar prefixes in Greek, so the hippo-gryph could be a pun with επικρυπτω epi-krypto for “disguised”, and with επικρυφος epi-kryphos for “unknown”. The spook rulers never appear to us in their true form, but are always disguised or unknown.
Greek epi-krypto = disguised, secret
ἐπικρύπτω epikrypto :
throw a cloak over, conceal; disguise; secrecy; to disguise oneself, conceal one’s purpose
— Ancient Greek (LSJ.gr)
ἐπίκρυφος epikryphos :
unknown, inglorious; concealed, secret
— Ancient Greek (LSJ.gr)
Greek hippo = horse; grupos = hook-nosed
ἵππω híppō :
horse, mare, horsemen (nominative/accusative/vocative dual)
— Ancient Greek (Wikt)
γρυπός grupos :
hook-nosed, aquiline; generally: hooked; curved
— Ancient Greek (LSJ.gr)
