θέρω

Validation

No

Last modification

Sun, 12/18/2022 - 15:30

Word-form

θάρσος

Transliteration (Word)

tharsos

English translation (word)

boldness

Transliteration (Etymon)

therō

English translation (etymon)

to heat

Author

Herodian

Century

2 AD

Reference

Peri pathôn, Lentz III/2, p. 384-385

Edition

A. Lentz, Grammatici Graeci III/2, Leipzig 1870

Source

Etym. Magnum

Ref.

Etym. Magnum, Kallierges, p. 443

Ed.

T. Gaisford, Etymologicum Magnum, Oxford, 1848

Quotation

θάρσος: παρὰ τὸ θέρω τὸ θερμαίνω ὁ μέλλων Αἰολικὸς θέρσω, ῥηματικὸν ὄνομα θέρσος καὶ τροπῇ τοῦ ε εἰς α θάρσος, ἀφ’ οὗ θρασεῖς, καθ’ ὑπέρθεσιν τοῦ ρ· οἱ γὰρ θερμοὶ καὶ θρασεῖς καὶ θαρσαλέος ὁ ἀνδρεῖος. 

Translation (En)

Tharsos "boldness": from therō "to heat", the Aeolic future is thersō, hence a verbal noun thersos, and by change of [e] into [a], tharsos. From there, by metathesis of the [r], thraseîs "bold", because those who are hot are bold, and tharsaleos means "bold"

Comment

Derivational etymology implying a dialectal form. The Aeolic equivalent for Attic-Ionic θάρσος is θέρσος, with an old e grade. This form was referred to θέρω because of the popular belief that impulsiveness is caused by heat (hot blooded).

Parallels

Herodian, Peri orthographias, Lentz III/2, p. 520 (Θερσίτης: Παρὰ τὸ θέρω, τὸ θερμαίνω, ὁ μέλλων Αἰολικῶς, θέρσω, γίνεται Θερσίτης, ὁ θερμαντικὸς ἐν τῷ λέγειν· θερμὸς γὰρ καὶ προπετής. Ἢ παρὰ τὸ θάρσος, ὃ οἱ Αἰολεῖς θέρσος λέγουσιν· οἱονεὶ ὁ εὔτολμος, κατὰ ἀντίφρασιν, τουτέστιν ὁ ἀσθενής· ἢ ὁ θάρσος ἔχων ἐν τῷ ὑβρίζειν); Etym. Magnum, Kallierges, p. 447 (idem); Etym. Gudianum, theta, p. 255 (Θάρσος, ἀνδρεία, παρὰ τὸ θέρω τὸ θερμαίνω, θέρος. ὁ μέλλων θέρσω); Eustathius, Comm. Il. 2, 5 Van der Valk (Ὅθεν καὶ θερμός λέγεται ὁ ἀναιδής καὶ οὕτω μάχιμος, καὶ θερμουργός ἐπαίνου λόγῳ ὁ ἀνδρεῖος, καὶ θερμὸν ἔργον ἄλλως τὸ θρασύ, ἐπεὶ καὶ τὸ θράσος καὶ πρὸ αὐτοῦ τὸ θάρσος ἐκ τοῦ θέρω θέρσω παρῆκται, ἀφ’ οὗ καὶ ὁ θερμός); ibid., 3, 52 (Ἔνθα ὅρα τὸ θαλπωρή καὶ θαρσαλεώτερον, συγγενῶς ἔχοντα ἐκ πολυωνυμίας, καθότι θαλπωρὴ μὲν ἐκ τοῦ θάλπω, θάρσος δὲ καὶ θαρσαλέος ἐκ τοῦ θέρω θέρσω); ibid., 3, 56 (Εἰσὶ γὰρ πολλὰ πυρὰ μὴ αἰθόμενα, ὡς τὸ τῆς μάχης καυστηρὸν καὶ δάϊον, ἐξ οὗ καὶ δαΐς λέγεται, καὶ τὸ τοῦ θράσους καὶ θάρρους, ἅπερ ἐκ τοῦ θέρω θέρσω παράγεται, καὶ τὸ παρὰ τοῖς ῥήτορσι καρδιακὸν πῦρ, ὅ ἐστι τὸ κατὰ διάθεσιν ζέον); Schol. Eur., Hec. 875 (ἀπὸ τοῦ θέρω τὸ θερμαίνω ἐτυμολογεῖται τὸ θράσος, ὅπερ μετατιθέμενον γίνεται καὶ θάρσος. καὶ θράσος μὲν ὁ ἀλόγιστος θυμὸς, θάρσος δὲ ὁ ἔλλογος ἐπὶ ψυχῆς)

Modern etymology

PIE *dhers- "to dare", cognate with Engl. dare, Ved. dhr̥ṣṇóti "be bold" (Beekes, EDG)

Persistence in Modern Greek

MG still has θάρρος and θαρραλέος

Entry By

Le Feuvre