κόρα + αἴρω
Word
Validation
No
Word-form
κάρα
Word-lemma
Transliteration (Word)
kara
English translation (word)
head
Transliteration (Etymon)
korē + airō
English translation (etymon)
pupil (eye) + to raise
Century
11 AD
Source
Idem
Ref.
Etymologica nominum 153
Ed.
R. Reitzenstein, M. Terentius Varro und Johannes Mauropus von Euchaita: eine Studie zur Geschichte der Sprachwissenschaft, Leipzig: Teubner, 1901
Quotation
Αἴρει κόρας μὲν οἷα πυρσοὺς ἡ κάρα
Translation (En)
The head (kara) raises (airei) the pupils <of the eyes> like torches
Parallels
There is no parallel
Modern etymology
Κάρα belongs with κέρας, both are derived from a PIE *kerh2 -s- meaning "head" (Beekes)
Persistence in Modern Greek
MG still has κάρα as a learned word referring to the head of a relic
Entry By
Le Feuvre
Comment
Compositional etymology referring to the position of the eyes, for which the metonymical equivalent "pupil" is selected. The etymology may be designed after one of the etymologies for ἄνθρωπος, the one who lifts his eyes (see ἄνθρωπος / ἄνω + ὤψ) because he stands in upright position