θάλλω + ἄση
Word
Validation
No
Word-form
θαλάσσης
Word-lemma
Transliteration (Word)
thalassa
English translation (word)
sea
Transliteration (Etymon)
thallō + asē
English translation (etymon)
to thrive + nausea
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
Parallels
There is no parallel
Modern etymology
Unknown, probably a loanword (Beekes, EDG)
Persistence in Modern Greek
Yes
Entry By
Le Feuvre
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.