ἀραρίσκω

Validation

Yes

Last modification

Thu, 05/09/2024 - 12:15

Word-form

ἄρθρον

Transliteration (Word)

arthron

English translation (word)

joint

Transliteration (Etymon)

arariskō

English translation (etymon)

to adapt, to fit

Author

Seleucus of Alexandria

Century

1 AD

Source

Etym. Gudianum Additamenta

Ref.

Etym. Gudianum Additamenta, alpha, p. 193

Ed.

E.L. de Stefani, Etymologicum Gudianum, fasc. 1 & 2, Leipzig: Teubner, 1:1909; 2:1920 (repr. Amsterdam: Hakkert, 1965)

Quotation

Σελεύκου. Ἄρθρον· παρὰ τὸ ἀρηρέναι, ὅ ἐστι συνηρμόσθαι

Translation (En)

(Seleucus). Arthron "joint", from arērenai "to be fitted", that is, to be adapted

Comment

Derivational etymology, correct by modern standards. The articulation is what fits the limbs together. It was in Orion, which is where Meletius took it from.

Parallels

Etym. Magnum, Kallierges, p. 141 (idem); Etym. Symeonis, vol. 1, p. 196 (idem); Meletius, De natura hominis, p. 131 (ἡ δὲ τῶν ἄρθρων ὀνομασία εὕρηται ἐκ τοῦ ἀρῶ ῥήματος, τοῦ σημαίνοντος τὸ ἁρμόζω· ἢ διὰ τὸ ἀρηρέναι ἀλλήλοις, ὅ ἐστι συναρμόζεσθαι); Choeroboscus, Epimerismi in Psalmos, p. 9 (Καὶ πόθεν γίνεται ἄρθρον; Παρὰ τὸ ἀρῶ τὸ ἁρμόζω. Ἄρθρα γὰρ κυρίως λέγονται αἱ τῶν μελῶν ἁρμονίαι); Ps.-Zonaras, Lexicon, alpha, p. 304 (ἄρθρα καὶ τὰ μέλη τοῦ σώματος. παρὰ τὸ αἴρω ἄρτρον καὶ ἄρθρον καὶ ἄρθρα· ὑπὸ τούτων γὰρ βασταζόμεθα. ἢ παρὰ τὸ ἀρῶ τὸ ἁρμόζω, παρὰ τὸ ἀρηρέναι ἀλλήλοις); Commentaria in Dionysii Thracis Artem grammaticam, Scholia Marciana, p. 418 (Πόθεν ἄρθρον; Ἀπὸ τοῦ ἄρω, ὃ δηλοῖ τὸ ἁρμόζω, ἁρμόζεται γὰρ τοῖς πτωτικοῖς ὀνόμασι, μετοχαῖς τε καὶ ἀντωνυμίαις καὶ οὐδέποτε χωρὶς αὐτῶν εὑρίσκεται); ibid., p. 421 (Δέον εἰδέναι ὅτι τὰ προτακτικὰ ἄρθρα ὀνόμασιν ἁρμόζεται καὶ συναρτᾶται)

The etymology is probably much older and may be implicit in Hippocrates' De articulis 72: ἄλλος γὰρ ἄλλῳ τῶν ἄρθρων ἁρμόζει. 

Modern etymology

Derivative of the root *h2er- "to adapt, to fit". Belongs with ἁρμόζω, ἀραρίσκω, ἄριστος etc. (Beekes, EDG)

Persistence in Modern Greek

MG still has άρθρο, meaning "article" (gramm.), "article" (published in a journal or a newspaper), and αρθρο- in learned compounds

Entry By

Le Feuvre