ἔξω + εἶναι

Validation

Yes

Word-form

ξένος

Transliteration (Word)

xenos

English translation (word)

guest-friend, host, stranger

Transliteration (Etymon)

exō + einai

English translation (etymon)

out of + to be

Author

Etymologicum Gudianum

Century

11 AD

Source

Idem

Ref.

Etymologicum Gudianum, xi 414.45-46, 415.5

Ed.

F.W.Sturz, Etymologicum Graecae linguae Gudianum et alia grammaticorum scripta e codicibus manuscriptis nunc primum edita, Leipzig: Weigel, 1818

Quotation

<Ξένος>, παρὰ τὸ ἔξω ἰέναι, ἢ παρὰ τὸ ἐκτὸς τῆς ἑνότητος· ἢ παρὰ τὸ ξέω, ὁ ἐξεσμένος καὶ ἀποκεχωρισμένος·[…]· <ξένος> παρὰ τὸ ἔξω εἶναι

Translation (En)

xenos ("host"): from "to go abroad" (exō ienai) or from "out of the unit" (ektos tēs enotētos); or from "to carve" (xeō), the person who is "rubbed away" (exesmenos) and separated […]; from "to be outside" (exō einai)

Comment

There are six main etymologies given by the ancient lexicographers for this word. See also the parallel etymology with ἰέναι

Parallels

Souda, epsilon 3308 (ὡς ξένος, ὁ ἔξω τῆς ἑνότητος ὤν, ἢ παρὰ τὸ ἔξω εἶναι) ; Ps.Zonaras, Lexicon, xi 1415 (<Ξένος>. παρὰ τὸ ἔξω εἶναι τῆς πατρίδος) ; Scholia in Odysseam (scholia vetera) Dindorf 15.326.1 (ξένος λέγεται παρὰ τὸ ἔξω εἶναι τῶν οἰκείων); Georgius Choeroboscus, Epimerismi in Psalmos 155, 25 Gaisdorf (ξένος, παρὰ τὸ ἔξω εἶναι, ἢ ἔξω ναίειν)

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