αἴρω

Validation

No

Last modification

Fri, 12/30/2022 - 15:00

Word-form

ἀριστερά

Transliteration (Word)

aristera

English translation (word)

left, left hand

Transliteration (Etymon)

airō

English translation (etymon)

to lift

Author

Chrysippus

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.

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.

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