σκηνή

Validation

Yes

Word-form

ξένος

Transliteration (Word)

xenos

English translation (word)

guest-friend, host, stranger

Transliteration (Etymon)

skēnē

English translation (etymon)

tent

Author

Etymologicum Magnum

Century

12 AD

Source

Idem

Ref.

Et. Mag. 610, 28 Kallierges

Ed.

T. Gaisford, Etymologicum magnum, Oxford, 1848

Quotation

<Ξένος>: Διχῶς· καὶ ὁ ὑποδεχόμενος τὸν ξένον, καὶ ὁ ἀπὸ τῆς ἀλλοδαπῆς ἥκων. Καὶ πεποίηται τοὔνομα παρὰ τὴν σκηνὴν, τὸν παρέχοντα σκέπην, ἵν' ᾖ *σκένος καὶ ξένος. Ἢ παρὰ τὸ ἄγω ἄξω ἄξενος, καὶ ξένος, ὃν ἄγει τὶς εἰς ἑαυτὸν καὶ ὑποδέχεται· ἢ παρὰ τὸ ἵξω *ἵξενος καὶ ξένος. Ὦρος

Translation (En)

Host’ (xenos): two meanings : the person who receives a foreigner and the person who comes from another country. The word is created from “tent” (skēnē), it refers to the person who offers shelter, so that it yields *skenos and then xenos "guest". Or it is from ‘to lead’ (agō), future I will lead (axō), hence *axenos and then xenos "host", the person someone "leads" (agei) to his home and receives. Or from ixō "I will come”, one derives *ixenos and then xenos "host". This is what Oros says.

Comment

This etymology relies on one phonetic manipulation, a metathesis in the sequence [ks] / [sk]. The alternation between ε and η was well known (τίθημι / τίθεμεν) and there was no need to comment upon it. From the semantic point of view, deriving the name of the host / guest from a name of the house into which he comes or equivalent relies on a metonymic relationship. It is not at all certain that it can be ascribed to Oros

Parallels

Etymologicum Gudianum, xi 414, 48 (<Ξένος>, καὶ πεποίηται τὸ ὄνομα παρὰ τὴν σκήνην, τουτ' ἔστιν ὁ παρέχων σκέπην, ἵν' ᾖ κένος καὶ ξένος, ὃν ἄγει τις εἰς ἑαυτὸν καὶ ὑποδέχεται); Ps. Zonaras, Lexicon, xi 1415.13-21 <Ξένος>. ὁ πάσης ἰδίων καὶ ἀλλοτρίων σχέσεως φυγάς. καὶ ὁ ἀπὸ ἀλλοδαπῆς χώρας ἥκων. καὶ πεποίηται τοὔνομα παρὰ τὴν σκηνὴν, τὸν παρέχοντα τὴν σκέπην καὶ σκέπασμα, ἵνα ᾖ σκενὸς καὶ ξένος. ἢ παρὰ τὸ ἄγω, ἄξω, ἄξενος καὶ ξένος, ὃν ἄγει τὶς εἰς ἑαυτὸν καὶ ἀποδέχεται. [ἢ παρὰ τὸ ἵξω, ἵξενος, καὶ ξένος. οὕτως Ὦρος ὁ Μιλήσιος]

Modern etymology

Ξένος (Ionic ξεῖνος) is from ξένϝος. It may go back to *ghs-en-, displaying the zero grade of *ghes- found in Lat. hostis "stranger, enemy", hopes "host", Got. gasts "host". Beekes (EDG) thinks it is Pre-Greek.

Persistence in Modern Greek

The word survives in Modern Greek designating: 1. 'not mine', 2. 'foreign', 3. 'unknown, or guest'. Plural neuter "τα ξένα" and fem. ξενιτιά mean 'foreign land of migration'. There also are many derivatives and compounds like ξενίζω, ξενόφερτος etc.

Entry By

Arnaud Zucker