νεύω
Word
Validation
No
Word-form
νεῦρα
Word-lemma
Etymon-lemma
Transliteration (Word)
neuron
English translation (word)
nerve, sinew
Transliteration (Etymon)
neuō
English translation (etymon)
to nod, to incline
Century
6 AD
Source
idem
Ref.
Scholia in Hippocratis De fracturis p. 22
Ed.
D. Irmer, Palladius. Kommentar zu Hippokrates 'De fracturis' und seine Parallelversion unter dem Namen des Stephanus von Alexandria [Hamburger philologische Studien 45. Hamburg: Buske, 1977]: 16-88
Quotation
διὰ τοῦτο γὰρ καὶ μύες εἴρηνται παρὰ τὸ μύειν καὶ νεῦρα παρὰ τὸ νεύειν
Translation (En)
For that reason, muscles (mues) are thus called, from "to contract" (muein), and nerves (neura) from "to incline" (neuein)
Parallels
Stephanus Med., Scholia in Hippocratis De fracturis, p. 23 (idem); Meletius, De natura hominis, p. 59 (τὰ νεῦρα τὴν ὀνομασίαν ἔσχε παρὰ τοῦ νεύειν πρὸς ἑαυτά […] παρὰ οὖν τὸ νεύειν νεῦρον, καὶ παρὰ τὸ μύειν μῦες); Leo medicus, De natura hominum synopsis 32 (ὅθεν νεῦρα; παρὰ τὸ νεύειν πρὸς ἑαυτά); Suda, nu 270 (Νεῦρον: δι’ οὗ νεύει τὰ κατὰ σῶμα. ἢ παρὰ τὸ νέω· νεῖται γὰρ τὰ νεῦρα δι’ ὅλου τοῦ σώματος); Joannes Mauropus, Etymologica nominum 202 (ὡς νεῦμα πρὸς κίνημα καὶ ῥοπὴ νεῦρον)
Modern etymology
Old inherited name of the sinew or nerve, cognate with Av. snãvar- "idem", and Lat. nervus with metathesis. PIE *sneh1wr/n-
Persistence in Modern Greek
MG still has νεύρο "nerve"
Entry By
Le Feuvre
Comment
Derivational etymology, probably rather meant for the meaning "sinew" than for the meaning "nerve". The word νεῦρον refers to both. Here, the etymology refers to the oblique position of the sinews that hold the muscles. This end of the etymon is left unaccounted for.