λέπω

Validation

Yes

Word-form

λεπρός

Transliteration (Word)

lepros

English translation (word)

scabby

Transliteration (Etymon)

lepō

English translation (etymon)

to peel, to strip off the rind

Author

Philoxenus

Century

1 BC

Reference

Fr. 590

Edition

C. Theodoridis, Die Fragmente des Grammatikers Philoxenos [Sammlung griechischer und lateinischer Grammatiker (SGLG) 2], Berlin: De Gruyter, 1976

Source

Orion

Ref.

Etymologicum, sigma, p. 147

Ed.

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

Quotation

σαπρός· παρὰ τὸ σήπω σαπρός, ὡς παρὰ τὸ λέπω λεπρός

Translation (En)

Sapros "rotten": from sēpō "to corrupt, to rot", as from lepō "to peel" lepros "scabby"

Comment

This is the correct etymology by modern standards. The details of the derivation vary according to our sources: the Etym. Parvum records several derivations, from λεπτός (verbal adjective of λέπω, with a change of [t] into [r]), or from λέπος "rind", though a derivative *λεπηρός which the Gudianum derives directly from λέπω. The proper name Λεπροί, in the scholion to the Acharnians, is explained either from λεπρός or referred to another proper name, that of a city named Λεπρίον (which is a circular explanation, not unusual in ancient Greek etymology)

Parallels

Etym. Parvum, lambda 10 (Orion Λεπρός· παρὰ τὸ λέπος, λεπηρὸς καὶ λεπρός· ἢ παρὰ τὸ λέπω τὸ λεπίζω, ὁ μέλλων λέψω, ὁ παρακείμενος λέλεφα λέλεμμαι λέλεψαι λέλεπται, καὶ ἐξ αὐτοῦ λεπτὸς καὶ τροπῇ τοῦ Τ εἰς Ρ λεπρός); Suda, alpha 302 (λεπρῶν δὲ οἱ μὲν ἀπὸ τοῦ λέπειν, ὅ ἐστι τύπτειν); Etym. Gudianum, lambda, p. 366 (Λεπρὸς, λευκὸς παρὰ φύσιν, παρὰ τὸ λέπω λεπηρὸς καὶ λεπρός· ἢ παρὰ τὸ λέπω καὶ τὸ ῥαίω, ἡ διεῤῥηκυῖα σάρξ); Eustathius, Comm. Od. 2, 201 (Τοῦ δὲ λέπειν, ἐξ οὗ καὶ τὸ λέμμα καὶ ἡ λεπὰς καὶ ἡ λεπρὰς καὶ ὁ λεπηρὸς καὶ ἐν συγκοπῇ λεπρὸς καὶ ἡ λεπὶς καὶ ὁ ἀλέπιστος καθά τις εἶπεν ἰχθὺς […]); Ps.-Zonaras, Lexicon, sigma, p. 1627 (Σαπρὸς καὶ σαπρία, ὁ ἀφανισμός. ἀπὸ τοῦ σήπω, ὡς λέπω λεπρός); Scholia in Aristophanem, Acharnenses 721 (τοὺς δ’ ἱμάντας ἐκ Λεπρῶν: οἱ μὲν ἀπὸ τοῦ λέπειν, ὅ ἐστι τύπτειν. οἱ δὲ ἀπὸ Λεπρίου πολίσματος τῆς Πελοποννήσου, οὗ μέμνηται καὶ Καλλίμαχος ἐν ὕμνοις “Καυκώνων πτολίεθρον ὃ Λέπριον πεφάτισται”. οἱ δὲ ἐκ λεπρῶν βοῶν. φασὶ γὰρ τὰ τῶν λεπρῶν βοῶν δέρματα ἰσχυρὰ εἶναι. οἱ δὲ ὅτι οἱ Μεγαρεῖς λεπροὶ τὸ σῶμα. πρὸς οὓς σπένδεται. ἄμεινον δὲ λέγειν ὅτι τόπος ἔξω τοῦ ἄστεος Λεπροὶ καλούμενος, ἔνθα τὰ βυρσεῖα ἦν)

Modern etymology

Λεπρός is derived from λέπω "to peel". The root is found in Lith. lāpas "leaf", lopas "rag", Ru. lapot' "shoe of bark" (Beekes, EDG)

Persistence in Modern Greek

Modern Greek still has λεπρός "1. leprous, 2. scabby", and the feminine λέπρα as 1. "leprosy" and 2. "anything contagious spread like λέπρα". There also is λεπροκομείο, which is the hospital for the specific illness.

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