ὁράω

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No

Last modification

Mon, 08/22/2022 - 13:00

Word-form

ὀφρῦς

Transliteration (Word)

ophrus

English translation (word)

brow

Transliteration (Etymon)

horaō

English translation (etymon)

to see

Author

Herodian

Century

2 AD

Reference

Peri pathôn, Lentz III/2, p. 294

Edition

A. Lentz, Grammatici Graeci, vol. 3.2, Leipzig: Teubner, 1870 (repr. Hildesheim: Olms, 1965)

Source

Etym. Magnum

Ref.

Etym. Magnum, Kallierges, p. 644

Ed.

T. Gaisford, Etymologicum magnum, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1848 (repr. Amsterdam: Hakkert, 1967)

Quotation

ὀφρῦς: ὁ Ἡρωδιανὸς παρὰ τὸ ὁρῶ ὁρῦς πλεονασμῷ τοῦ φ

Translation (En)

ophrus "brow": Herodian derives it from horô "to see", *horus, and addition of the /ph/

Comment

Derivational etymology implying one formal manipulation, the insertion of a consonant. The weird thing in this etymology is meaning: the brow is not the organ of sight, therefore deriving it from the verb "to see" is bold, even by Greek standards. The contiguity between brow and eye is the reason for the metonymy underlying the etymology and allowing Herodian to transfer an etymology fit for "eye" to the noun for "brow". That ὁράω has a rough breathing and ὀφρύς a smooth one did not bother Herodian, who started from the psilotic pronunciation of his time

Parallels

Etym. Gudianum, omicron, p. 444 (idem)

Modern etymology

Inherited word for "brow", matching Ved. bhrū-, Engl. brow, Germ. Braue, OCS brъvь, isolated in Greek (Beekes, EDG)

Persistence in Modern Greek

MG has φρύδι, from the old diminutive ὀφρύδιον

Entry By

Le Feuvre