γεννάω
Word
Validation
Yes
Word-form
γάμος
Word-lemma
Etymon-lemma
Transliteration (Word)
gamos
English translation (word)
marriage
Transliteration (Etymon)
gennaō
English translation (etymon)
to give birth, to generate
Century
11 AD
Source
Idem
Ref.
Additamenta in Etymologicum Gudianum, gamma, p. 297
Ed.
E.L. de Stefani, Etymologicum Gudianum, fasc. 1 & 2, Leipzig: Teubner, 1:1909; 2:1920
Quotation
<Γάμος> ... ἢ διὰ τὸ γεννᾶν
Translation (En)
Gamos "marriage": […] or because it gives birth (gennān)
Parallels
Etym. Symeonis, gamma 23 (Γάμος· παρὰ τὸ δαμῶ τὸ δαμάζω γίνεται δάμος καὶ γάμος, ὁ δαμαστικὸς καὶ ὑποτακτικὸς τῶν θηλείων· ὅθεν καὶ Ὅμηρος ἀδαμάστους λέγει τὰς παρθένους· παρθένος ἀδμής· οἱ δὲ παρὰ τὸ γεννᾶν γάμος); Etym. Magnum, Kallierges p. 220 (idem)
Modern etymology
The group of γάμος, γαμέω has no cognate outside Greek (Beekes, EDG)
Persistence in Modern Greek
Yes
Entry By
Le Feuvre
Comment
This is a functional etymology: the function of marriage is to produce an offspring. Formally, it implies a modification of [n] into [m]. The nasal consonants were close enough to make it a minor modification for Greek grammarians.