γένος
Word
Validation
Yes
Word-form
γένυς
Word-lemma
Etymon-lemma
Transliteration (Word)
genus
English translation (word)
jaw
Transliteration (Etymon)
genos
English translation (etymon)
kind
Century
9 AD?
Source
Idem
Ref.
De natura hominis p. 74
Ed.
J.A. Cramer, Anecdota Graeca e codd. manuscriptis bibliothecarum Oxoniensium, vol. 3, Oxford, 1836
Quotation
γένυς δὲ λέγεται ἐκ τοῦ τὰ γένη διαχωρίζειν τῶν ἀῤῥένων καὶ τῶν θηλειῶν, καὶ τελείων καὶ ἀτελῶν· ἢ ὅτι γεννᾶ ὀδόντας καὶ τρίχας
Translation (En)
Genus "jaw" is thus called because through it are distinguished the male and female kinds (genē), and the adult and subadult ages. Or because it generates teeth and hair
Parallels
Leo Medicus, De natura hominum synopsis 46 (idem); Joannes Mauropus, Etymologica nominum 189 (Γονῆς γένυς γνώρισμα τετριχωμένη [γονή "birth" is here equivalent to γένος])
Modern etymology
Γένυς "jaw, cheek" is an inherited Indo-European word, cognate with Lat. gena "cheek", Skr. hanu- "jaw-bone", Gothic kinnu "chin", and Engl. chin (Beekes, EDG)
Persistence in Modern Greek
No
Entry By
Le Feuvre
Comment
The etymology of γένειον (q.v.) was transferred to γένυς