ἔχω + λεῖος
Word
Validation
No
Word-form
χείλη
Word-lemma
Transliteration (Word)
kheilos
English translation (word)
lip
Transliteration (Etymon)
ekhō + leios
English translation (etymon)
to hold, to have + smooth
Century
11 AD
Source
Idem
Ref.
Etymologica nominum 179
Ed.
R. Reitzenstein, M. Terentius Varro und Johannes Mauropus von Euchaita: eine Studie zur Geschichte der Sprachwissenschaft, Leipzig: Teubner, 1901
Quotation
χείλη δὲ χεῖ λόγους τε καὶ λείως ἔχει
Translation (En)
The lips (kheilē) pour words and are smooth (leiōs ekhei)
Parallels
There is no parallel
Modern etymology
Unclear (Beekes, EDG)
Persistence in Modern Greek
MG still has χείλι
Entry By
Le Feuvre
Comment
Compositional etymology relying on the construction ἔχω + Adverb = εἰμί + Adjective. The lip is defined as the smooth surface, that is, the one without hair. The etymology is formally complicated and involves dropping of the [e] of ἔχω and a metathesis in "lip", λεῖος > -εῖλος