δυσ- + στένω

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No

Last modification

Mon, 12/22/2025 - 20:45

Word-form

δύστηνος

Transliteration (Word)

dustēnos

English translation (word)

unhappy, wretched

Transliteration (Etymon)

dus- + stenō

English translation (etymon)

badly + to moan

Author

Orion

Century

5 AD

Source

idem

Ref.

Etymologicum, delta, p. 49

Ed.

F. Sturz, Orionis Thebani etymologicon, Leipzig, Weigel, 1820

Quotation

Δύστηνος. παρὰ τὸ στένειν, τροπῇ τοῦ ε εἰς η.

Translation (En)

Dustēnos "unhappy". From stenein "to moan", by change of /e/ to /ē/

Comment

Since the lemma has a negative meaning, as all words in δυσ-, the pejorative prefix, its etymon was sought in a word that has itself negative meaning. The assumed etymon, στένω, means "to moan", which is indeed negative. The etymon is the consequence of the lemma. The presence of the prefix δυσ- is not mentioned because it is obvious.

Parallels

Συναγωγὴ λέξεων χρησίμων, delta 429 (δύστηνος· ταλαίπωρος, δυστυχής, ἄθλιος. παρὰ τὸ στένω); Epimerismi homerici ordine alphabetico traditi, delta 73 (δύστηνος: σύνθετον παρὰ τὸ δυς καὶ τὸ στένω. εἰ οὖν τὸ στένω ἔχει τὸ σ, ὤφειλε διὰ δύο σσ γράφεσθαι· δύσστηνος); Etym. Gudianum, delta, p. 384 (Δύστηνος· παρὰ τὸ στένειν ἐπεκτάσει τοῦ ε εἰς η); Etym. Gudianum Additamenta, delta, p. 384 (Δύστηνος· ὁ δυστυχής· παρὰ τὸ στένω καὶ τὸ δύς ἐπίρρημα καὶ ἐν ἐκτάσει δύστηνος καὶ ἀποβολῇ τοῦ ς· ὁ ἀεὶ κακῶς στένων. τὸ δ’ αὐτὸ καὶ ἄστηνος, τοῦ α ἐπίτασιν σημαίνοντος); Etym. Magnum, Kallierges, p. 292 (Δύστηνος: Δυστυχὴς, ταλαίπωρος, ἄθλιος. Ἢ παρὰ τὸ στῆναι, οἱονεὶ ὁ μὴ δυνάμενος στῆναι· ἢ ἀπὸ τοῦ στένω καὶ τοῦ ΔΥΣ ἐπιρρήματος, ὁ πάνυ στένων, ὁ ἀεὶ κακός); Etym. Symeonis, delta 406 (Δύστηνος· ταλαίπωρος, δυστυχής· ἢ παρὰ τὸ στῆναι ἐγένετο δύστηνος οἱονεὶ ὁ μὴ δυνάμενος στῆναι· ἢ ἀπὸ τοῦ στένω ὁ πάνυ στένων); Schol. in Sophoclem, Aj. 122 (idem) Ps.-Zonaras, Lexicon, delta, p. 577 (Δύστηνος. ἄθλιος, *φρικωδέστατος·* ταλαίπωρος. παρὰ τὸ στῆναι· οἱονεὶ ὁ μὴ δυνάμενος στῆναι. ἢ ἀπὸ τοῦ στένω, οἱονεὶ ὁ πάνυ στένων)

Modern etymology

The second member of the compound is probably from the root *steh2-, the original meaning must be "who has a bad standing" (Beekes, EDG)

Persistence in Modern Greek

No

Entry By

Le Feuvre