ἐράω

Validation

No

Last modification

Tue, 08/27/2024 - 10:10

Word-form

εἶρος

Transliteration (Word)

eiros

English translation (word)

wool

Transliteration (Etymon)

eraō

English translation (etymon)

to love

Author

Choeroboscus

Century

9 AD

Source

idem

Ref.

Epimerismi in Psalmos, p. 187

Ed.

T. Gaisford, Georgii Choerobosci epimerismi in Psalmos, vol. 3, Oxford, 1842

Quotation

Ἔριον, παρὰ τὸ εἶρος. [τοῦτο παρὰ τὸ εἴρω, τὸ συμπλέκω, ἢ παρὰ τὸ ἐρῶ, τὸ ἐπιθυμῶ]

Translation (En)

Erion "wool", from eiros "wool". The latter from eirō "to fasten together". Or from eraō "to desire"

Comment

Derivational etymology, which may well be secondary, due to a misunderstanding of the etymon ἔρρω "to go to one's own harm", a rare word, as ἐρῶ "to love", after the loss of geminate consonants. The semantic justification is shaky: the wool can be desirable because it provides garments, hence heat

Parallels

Etym. Gudianum Additamenta, epsilon, p. 524 (idem)

Modern etymology

The older form is εἶρος < *werwes-, cognate with Lat. vervex "wether" (Beekes, EDG)

Persistence in Modern Greek

MG still has έριο as a learned word, referring to wool as matter. The usual word is μαλλί

Entry By

Le Feuvre