γένος

Validation

Yes

Word-form

γένειον

Transliteration (Word)

geneion

English translation (word)

chin

Transliteration (Etymon)

genos

English translation (etymon)

kind

Author

Soranus of Ephesus

Century

1-2 AD

Source

Orion

Ref.

Etymologicum, gamma, p. 40

Ed.

F.W. Sturz, Orionis Thebani etymologicon, Leipzig, 1820

Quotation

Γένειον, τὸ μέσον καὶ ἐξέχον τῆς κάτω γένυος. ἀπὸ 
τοῦ δι’ αὐτοῦ τὰ γένη διαστέλλεσθαι τῶν ἀῤῥένων καὶ τῶν θηλυκῶν, καὶ ἀτελῶν καὶ τελείων ἡλικιῶν. οὕτω 
Σωρανός.

Translation (En)

Geneion "chin": the middle part contiguous to the inferior jaw; its name comes from the fact that through it are distinguished the male and female kinds (genē), and the adult and subadult ages. This is what Soranus [of Ephesus] says.

Comment

Γένειον is explained by the physician Soranus as a derivative from γένος "kind", as though the chin were the kind-making bodypart. This etymology is also given by Herodian although he does not explain it (see Parallels). Curiously, γένειον is never explicitly linked with γένυς "jaw", although lexicographers often give γένεια as an equivalent for γένυς and the same etymology is sometimes provide for γένυς (see below, Parallels).

Parallels

Herodian, Peri orthographias, Lentz III/2, p. 458 (Τὰ ἀπὸ τῶν εἰς ος οὐδετέρων δισυλλάβων διὰ τοῦ ειον γινόμενα 
οὐδέτερα μονογενῆ διὰ τῆς ει διφθόγγου γράφεται, δάνος δάνειον,  γένος γένειον); Meletius, De natura hominis p. 74 (γένυς δὲ λέγεται ἐκ τοῦ τὰ γένη διαχωρίζειν τῶν ἀῤῥένων καὶ τῶν θηλειῶν, καὶ τελείων καὶ ἀτελῶν); Leo Medicus, De natura hominum synopsis 46 (idem); Etym. Gudianum, gamma, p. 304 (παρὰ τὸ γένος, γένειον, ὡς δάνος, δάνειον); ibid. p. 305 (παρὰ τὸ τὰ γένη ἐξ αὐτοῦ διακρίνεσθαι καὶ ἀρρένων καὶ θηλειῶν, καὶ ἡλικίας τελείων καὶ ἀτελῶν); Etym. Magnum, Kallierges p. 225 (παρὰ τὸ γένος, γένειον, ὡς δάνος, δάνειον. Ἀπ’ αὐτοῦ γὰρ τὰ γένη διαστέλλονται, καὶ διακρίνει τὰ γένη); Ps.-Zonaras, Lexicon, gamma, p. 430 (idem).

Modern etymology

Γένειον is derived from γένυς "jaw, cheek", cognate with Lat. gena "cheek", Skr. hanu- "jaw-bone", Gothic kinnu "chin", and Engl. chin (Beekes, EDG)

Persistence in Modern Greek

Modern Greek has the form γένι (plural "τα γένια") from γένειον. There also is the word "γενειάδα", meaning 'long and rich beard', from ancient greek γενειάς.

Entry By

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