ἀκή

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Fri, 06/04/2021 - 15:11

Word-form

ἀκμή

Transliteration (Word)

akmē

English translation (word)

highest point

Transliteration (Etymon)

akē

English translation (etymon)

point

Author

Orion

Century

5 AD

Source

Idem

Ref.

Etymologicum, alpha, p. 14

Ed.

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

Quotation

 Ἀκμή, παρὰ τὸ ἀκὴ, καὶ πλεονασμῷ τοῦ μ, ἀκμή

Translation (En)

Akmē "highest point": from akē "point", and through the addition of [m], akmē.

Comment

Ἀκμή is here explained as derived from ἀκή "point", through a unique formal manipulation. This is half correct from our modern point of view as ἀκή and ἀκμή are both derivatives from root ἀκ-, although the one is not derived from the other.

Parallels

Etym. Genuinum, alpha 337 (Ἀκμή (Κ 173)· ἡ ἀκρότης καὶ ὀξύτης τοῦ σιδήρου κυρίως· Ὅμηρος (l. c.)· "ἐπὶ ξυροῦ ἵσταται ἀκμῆς·" παρὰ τὸ ἥκω γίνεται ῥηματικὸν ὄνομα ἠκή, ὃ σημαίνει τὴν ὀξύτητα, ἡ διὰ παντὸς ἰοῦσα, ἀκή καὶ πλεονασμῷ τοῦ μ ἀκμή. […] ἢ παρὰ τὸ κάμω γέγονε κατὰ συγκοπὴν κμῶ καὶ μετὰ τοῦ στερητικοῦ α ἀκμή, ἡ μὴ κάμνουσα διὰ νεότητα ἢ πόνους μὴ δυναμένη ὑποστῆναι); Etym. Magnum, Kallierges p. 49 (idem); Etym. Symeonis, vol. 1 p. 218 (idem); Etym. Genuinum, alpha 331 (Ἀκίς· τὸ τοῦ βέλους † σίδηρον· παρὰ τὸ ἀκή, ὃ σημαίνει τὴν ὀξύτητα, ὃ κατ’ ἐπένθεσιν τοῦ μ γίνεται ἀκμή. παρὰ τὸ ἀκή οὖν γίνεται ὑποκοριστικὸν ἀκίς, ὡς σκάφη σκαφίς, † ἄμνη ἀμνίς † [οὕτως Μεθόδιος]) Etym. Magnum, Kallierges, p. 48 (idem); Etym. Gudianum, alpha p. 66 (Ἀκμή· ἡ ὀξύτης· παρὰ τὸ ἥκω ἀκή καὶ πλεονασμῷ τοῦ μ ἀκμή); Etym. Gudianum Additamenta, alpha, p. 66 (Ἀκίς· τὸ τοῦ βέλους σιδήριον· παρὰ τὸ ἀκή, ὃ σημαίνει τὴν ὀξύτητα, καὶ κατ’ ἐπένθεσιν τοῦ μ λέγεται ἀκμή· παρὰ τὸ ἀκὴ <οὖν> ὑποκοριστικὸν ἀκίς, ὡς σκάφη σκαφίς, ἄμη ἀμίς); Etym. Symeonis, vol. 1, p. 216 (idem); Ps.-Zonaras, Lexicon, alpha, p. 104 (idem); Lexicon αἱμωδεῖν, alpha 25 ( ἀκμή: ἡ ὀξύτης· παρὰ τὸ ἥκω ἀκή καὶ πλεονασμῷ τοῦ μ ἀκμή)

Modern etymology

Ἀκμή is derived from root ἀκ- (PIE *h2ek-) "point", found in most IE languages. Within Greek, it is related to ἄκρος "highest, extreme", ἄκων "javelin", ἀκόνη "whetstone", ἀκίς "spearhead" (Beekes, EDG)

Persistence in Modern Greek

Ακμή is still used in MG to designate: 1. The peak of a development, 2. the accute edge, 3. (med.) the disease of the skin, the acne.

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