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Ancient and Medieval Greek Etymologies

μῆνιγξ

Word

μῆνιγξ

Validation

Yes

Last modification

Sat, 10/22/2022 - 19:00

Word-form

μήνιγγες

Word-lemma

LSJ

Etymon-lemma

LSJ

Transliteration (Word)

mēninx

English translation (word)

membrane

Transliteration (Etymon)

menō

English translation (etymon)

to stay, to remain

Author

Soranus of Ephesus

Century

1-2 AD

Source

Orion

Ref.

Etymologicum, mu p. 100

Ed.

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

Quotation

Μήνιγγες λέγονται διὰ τὸ μένειν ἐν αὐταῖς τὸν ἐγκέφαλον. οὕτω Σωρανὸς λέγει

Translation (En)

The meninges (mēninges) are so called because the brain remains (menein) within them. This is what Soranus says

Comment

Μῆνιγγες "membranes" was very soon specialised in the meaning "meninges", the membranes that surround the brain and the spina, so that they seem to maintain them in their right place and "make them stay". This is a functional etymology: the word is named after the function of its referent, not after its form. From the formal point of view, it relies on the familiar alternation between long and short vowel

Parallels

Meletius, De natura hominis p. 53 (οἱ δὲ σκέποντες τοῦτον ὑμένες μήνιγγες λέγονται, διὰ τὸ μένειν ἐν αὐταῖς τὸν ἐγκέφαλον); Leo medicus, De natura hominum synopsis 26 (idem); Epimerismi homerici Il. 1.1 (ἀπὸ γοῦν τοῦ μένω, μένιγξ καὶ μήνιγγες, οἱ συνέχοντες τὸν ἐγκέφαλον ὑμένες, παρὰ τὸ ἐν αὐταῖς μένειν); Joannes Mauropus, Etymologica nominum 181 (Μήνιγγος ἐντὸς χρῆμα πάντιμον μένει); Etym. Gudianum, mu p. 391 (Μήνιγγες, παρὰ τὸ μένειν ἐν αὐταῖς τὸν ἐγκέφαλον); Etym. Magnum, Kallierges, p. 583 (Μήνιγγες: Λέγονται οἱ σκέποντες ὑμένες τὸν ἐγκέφαλον, διὰ τὸ μένειν ἐν αὐταῖς τὸν ἐγκέφαλον); Ps.-Zonaras, Lexicon, mu p. 1356 (Μῆνιγξ. ὁ τοῦ ἐγκεφάλου ὑμήν. διὰ τὸ μένειν ἐν αὐτῷ ἢ ἐν αὐτῇ τὸν ἐγκέφαλον. λέγεται γὰρ καὶ θηλυκῶς)

Modern etymology

Μῆνιγξ is cognate with Lat. membrana "membrane", Rus. mezdra "inner side of a hide", and ultimately with the PIE word for "meat", *mēms-o- found in Greek μηρός "thigh" (Beekes, EDG, notwithstanding his doubts).

Persistence in Modern Greek

MG has μήνιγγα (from the old accusative) designating each of the three membranes covering the brain and μηνίγγι, 'the part of the face between the eye and the upper ear'. See also the derivatives μηνιγγικός, μηνιγγίτιδα "meningitis" (Triandafyllidis, DMG)