αἴρω
Word
Validation
No
Word-form
ἀριστερά
Word-lemma
Etymon-lemma
Transliteration (Word)
aristera
English translation (word)
left, left hand
Transliteration (Etymon)
airō
English translation (etymon)
to lift
Century
3 BC
Source
Etym. Gudianum Additamenta
Ref.
Etym. Gudianum Additamenta, alpha, p. 196
Ed.
E.L. de Stefani, Etymologicum Gudianum, fasc. 1 & 2, Leipzig: Teubner, 1:1909; 2:1920
Quotation
Ἀριστερά· ἡ χείρ. εἴρηται, ὡς Χρύσιππος <fr. deest ap. Arnim>, ⟦ἀπὸ⟧ τοῦ αἴρω, ἐπειδὴ τὰ πολλὰ τῶν φορτίων βαστάζομεν ἐπὶ τοῦ ὤμου δι’ αὐτῆς. βέλτιον δὲ κατ’ εὐφημισμόν, ὡς πρὸς τὴν δεξιὰν ἀριστοτέρα τις οὖσα· καὶ γὰρ εὐώνυμος καλεῖται. οὕτω Σωρανός.
Translation (En)
Aristera "left hand": the hand, from airō "to lift", because we carry many heavy things on the shoulder thanks to it. But it is better <to assume> ti is an euphemic name, as the "better" hand compared to the right hand: as a matter of fact, it is also called euōnumos "of good name". This is what Soranus says.
Parallels
There is no parallel
Modern etymology
Euphemic name of the left (hand), derived from ἄριστος "best" with the opposite suffix *-(t)ero- (Beekes, EDG)
Persistence in Modern Greek
Yes
Entry By
Le Feuvre
Comment
Derivational etymology implying one formal change, the loss of [I]. The end of the word remains accounted for. It is justified by the fact that the hand (or the arm) carries and lifts objects.