τείνω

Validation

No

Last modification

Sun, 12/18/2022 - 18:30

Word-form

θάλασσα

Transliteration (Word)

thalassa

English translation (word)

sea

Transliteration (Etymon)

teinō

English translation (etymon)

to stretch

Author

Etym. Magnum

Century

12 AD

Source

Idem

Ref.

Etym. Magnum, Kallierges, p. 441

Ed.

T. Gaisford, Etymologicum Magnum, Oxford, 1848

Quotation

Θάλασσα: Παρὰ τὸν σάλον, σάλασσα καὶ θάλασσα, μεταθέσει τοῦ σ εἰς θ, ὡς ὀρχησμὸς, ὀρχηθμός. Ἢ παρὰ τὸ ἆσσον εἶναι θανάτου γίνεται θάνασσα, καὶ θάλασσα. Ἢ παρὰ τὴν ἁλὸς γενικὴν, ἅλασσα· καὶ πλεονασμῷ τοῦ θ, θάλασσα. Ἢ παρὰ τὸ τείνω, ἐκ τοῦ ἐπιτεταμένην ἔχειν τὴν ὁδόν.

Translation (En)

Thalassa "sea". From salos "tossing motion", *salassa and thalassa, by change of []s into [th], as in orkhēsmos, orkhēthmos "dance". Or from the fact that <those who sail> are closer to death (asson einai thanatou), *thanassa and thalassa. Or from the genitive halos "of the sea", *halassa and with addition of [th], thalassa. Or from teinō "to stretch", because it provides a long path

Comment

Derivational etymology implying several changes: of [t] into [th], of [n] into [l], and the end of the word remains unaccounted for. The sea is etymologized as that which stretches along the coast and makes it possible to cover long distances

Parallels

There is no parallel

Modern etymology

Unknown, probably a loanword (Beekes, EDG)

Persistence in Modern Greek

Yes

Entry By

Le Feuvre