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Ancient and Medieval Greek Etymologies

θεμέλια

Word

θεμέλια

Validation

No

Last modification

Tue, 12/30/2025 - 20:30

Word-form

θεμέλιον

Word-lemma

LSJ

Etymon-lemma

LSJ

Transliteration (Word)

themelia

English translation (word)

foundations

Transliteration (Etymon)

tithēmi

English translation (etymon)

to place

Author

Herodian

Century

2 AD

Reference

De orthographia, Lentz III/2, p. 520

Edition

A. Lentz, Grammatici graeci, vol. III/2, Leipzig, 1870

Source

Choeroboscus

Ref.

De orthographia (epitome)

Ed.

J. A. Cramer, Anecdota Graeca e codd. manuscriptis bibliothecarum Oxoniensium, vol. 2, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1835 (repr. Amsterdam: Hakkert, 1963)

Quotation

θεμέλιον: ι· παρὰ τὸ θήσομαι θεμέλιον ὡς κείσομαι κειμήλιον (Lentz)

Translation (En)

Themelion "foundation": from thēsomai "I will place" themelion, as keisomai "I will lie" keimēlion "treasure"

Comment

Derivational etymology, correct in its principle, although the parallel provided is inexact. The foundation is what is laid, "placed" first.

Parallels

ibid., p. 531, ap. Choeroboscus p. 232 (κειμήλιον: διὰ τῆς ει διφθόγγου τὸ πρῶτον ὥσπερ παρὰ θήσω μέλλοντα γίνεται θεμέλιον, οὕτω καὶ παρὰ τὸν κείσω μέλλοντα κειμήλιον); Etym. Gudianum, kappa, p. 310 (Κειμήλια, ἀπόθετα χρήματα, ὡς παρὰ τὸν θήσω μέλλοντα γίνεται θεμέλιον, οὕτω καὶ παρὰ τὸν κείσω μέλλοντα γίνεται κειμήλιον); Etym. Magnum, Kallierges, p. 508 (idem); Eustathius, Comm. Il., vol. 3, p. 348 (παρὰ τὸ θέσθαι γὰρ τὸ θεμέλιον); Ps.-Zonaras, Lexicon, kappa, p. 1192 (Κειμήλια, τὰ ἀπόθετα χρήματα. ὡς παρὰ τὸν θείσω μέλλοντα γίνεται θειμέλια, οὕτω καὶ παρὰ τὸν κείσω μέλλοντα γίνεται κειμήλιον)