φάος + βαίνω

Validation

Yes

Word-form

βρέφος

Transliteration (Word)

brephos

English translation (word)

foetus, new-born babe

Transliteration (Etymon)

phaos + bainō

English translation (etymon)

light + to walk

Author

Choeroboscus

Century

9 AD

Source

Etym. Gudianum

Ref.

Etym. Gudianum, beta, p. 286

Ed.

E.L. de Stefani, Etymologicum Gudianum, fasc. 1 & 2, Leipzig, 1:1909; 2:1920

Quotation

Γεωργίου τοῦ Χοιροβοσκοῦ Βρέφος· παρὰ τὸ εἰς φῶς βεβηκέναι 

Translation (En)

(Georges Choeroboscus) brephos ("foetus, new-born babe") : from the fact that "it has come" (bebēkenai) to "light" (fōs)

Comment

The word is analyzed as a compound, the second element of which, φῶς "light", was phonetically identical with -φος in Byzantin Greek, the difference was only a matter of spelling. The identification of "light" at the end of the word restrained the possibilities for the beginning of the word, and the initial [b] suggested βαίνω, which was semantically compatible. The [r] is left unexplained in the Gudianum's formulation, probably abridged

Parallels

Etym. Magnum, Kallierges p. 213 (Παρὰ τὸ φέρβω, τὸ τρέφω, γίνεται  
φέρβος, καὶ κατὰ μετάθεσιν τῶν στοιχείων, βρέφος, τὸ δεόμενον τροφῆς. Ἢ παρὰ τὸ εἰς φῶς βεβηκέναι)

Modern etymology

Βρέφος is cognate with the Slavic word for "foal", OCS žrěbę, žrěbьcь (Beekes, EDG)

Persistence in Modern Greek

Βρέφος is still used in Modern Greek to denote 'a child, from the 2nd to the 12th month of birth'. "Θείο βρέφος" designates Jesus Christ. (Triandafyllidis, Dictionary of Modern Greek).

Entry By

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