θάλλω + ἄση

Validation

No

Last modification

Sun, 12/18/2022 - 18:40

Word-form

θαλάσσης

Transliteration (Word)

thalassa

English translation (word)

sea

Transliteration (Etymon)

thallō + asē

English translation (etymon)

to thrive + nausea

Author

Joannes Tzetzes

Century

12 AD

Source

Idem

Ref.

Exegesis in Homeri Iliadem 1.345

Ed.

M. Papathomopoulos, Ἐξήγησις Ἰωάννου Γραμματικοῦ τοῦ Τζέτζου εἰς τὴν Ὁμήρου Ἰλιάδα, Athens: Academy of Athens, 2007

Quotation

θαλάσσης· οἱ μὲν ἐτυμολόγοι πάντες παρὰ τὸ ἆσσον εἶναι θανάτου τοῖς πλέουσιν εἶπον· ἐγὼ δέ, παρὰ τὸ ἐν ταῖς ἄσαις, ἤγουν βλάβαις, θάλλειν·

Translation (En)

Thalassēs "of the sea". All the etymologists explained it from the fact that sailing people are closer to death. But I say it comes from the fact it thrives (thallein) in nauseas (asais), that is, in damages

Comment

Compositional etymology, probably a playful exercice. The sea is etymologized as rich in damages. The meaning of ἄση is twofold: it means "distress", but also "loathing, nausea", and although Tzetzes explains it by βλάβη, which refers to the general meaning "distress", he probably had in mind the specific meaning, suited for sea-farers who are sea-sick.

Parallels

There is no parallel

Modern etymology

Unknown, probably a loanword (Beekes, EDG)

Persistence in Modern Greek

Yes

Entry By

Le Feuvre