γῆρας

Validation

Yes

Word-form

γέρας

Transliteration (Word)

geras

English translation (word)

gift of honor

Transliteration (Etymon)

gēras

English translation (etymon)

old age

Author

Orion

Century

5 AD

Source

Idem

Ref.

Etymologicum, gamma, p. 41

Ed.

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

Quotation

Γέρας, ἡ τιμὴ, παρὰ τὸ γῆρας τὸ τίμιον, τροπῇ τοῦ η εἰς ε

Translation (En)

Geras "honor": from gēras "what is honorable", through change of the [ē] into [e]

Comment

Reversible etymology, since the opposite derivation is attested (see γῆρας / γέρας). The etymology relies on the usual alternation between [ē] and [ĕ] (τίθημι / τίθεμεν), which is a minimal change, the suffix and inflectional type of both words being identical. The semantic connection relies on the notion that old age is worthy of honor, and indeed Orion glosses γῆρας by τίμιον, which explicates the semantic relationship. The connection is correct by modern standards, although neither word is directly derived from the other.

Parallels

Etym. Gudianum Additamenta, gamma, p. 306 (idem); Etym. Magnum, Kallierges p. 227 (Γέρας: Ἡ τιμή· παρὰ τὸ γῆρας· αἰδοῦς γὰρ ἄξιοι καὶ τιμῆς οἱ γέροντες. Ἢ παρὰ τὸ ἐρῶ, τὸ ἐπιθυμῶ, ἔρας καὶ γέρας, οὗ πᾶς ἐρᾷ. Τὰ γέρα, ὅ ἐστι τὰς τιμάς); Etym. Symeonis, gamma 68 (Γέρας· ἡ τιμή· παρὰ τὸ γῆρας γέρας, αἰδοῦς γὰρ ἄξιοι οἱ γέροντες· ἢ παρὰ ἐρῶ ἔρας καὶ γέρας· πάντες γὰρ εἰς γῆρας ἥκειν ἐπιθυμοῦμεν)

Modern etymology

Γέρας belongs to the inherited PIE root *g̑erh2- "old", and is connected within Greek with γῆρας, γέρων, and γραῦς (Beekes, EDG)

Persistence in Modern Greek

No

Entry By

Le Feuvre