ἀ- + χάω

Validation

Yes

Last modification

Tue, 11/16/2021 - 07:25

Word-form

ἄχος

Transliteration (Word)

akhos

English translation (word)

pain, distress

Transliteration (Etymon)

a- + khaō

English translation (etymon)

not + to give way

Author

Etym. Magnum

Century

12 AD

Source

Idem

Ref.

Etym Magnum, Kallierges, p. 182

Ed.

T. Gaisford, Etymologicum Magnum, Oxford, 1848

Quotation

Ἄχος: Ἡ λύπη. Ἐκ τοῦ χῶ τοῦ δηλοῦντος τὸ διαχεῖσθαι, (ἐξ οὗ καὶ τὸ χαίρω) γίνεται ἄχω, παρὰ τὸ μὴ διαχεῖσθαι, ἀλλὰ συνέχεσθαι τὴν ψυχὴν ὑπὸ λύπης· ὅθεν καὶ τὸ χαίρειν εἴρηται παρὰ τὸ διαχεῖσθαι τὴν ψυχὴν ὑπὸ τῆς ἡδονῆς. Ἢ παρὰ τὸ ἔχω, κατὰ ἀντίφρασιν, ὃ οὐ θέλει τὶς ἔχειν. Ἢ χῶ τὸ χωρῶ, χός· μετὰ τοῦ στερητικοῦ, ἄχος, τὸ μὴ χωρούμενον διὰ τὴν λύπην. Ἢ χῶ, τὸ χέω, μετὰ τοῦ στερητικοῦ, ἄχος, τὸ μὴ χεόμενον. Ἢ παρὰ τὸ ἔχω

Translation (En)

Akhos "pain". From khô meaning "to pour" (from which comes also khairō "to rejoice") comes akhō "to feel pain", from the fact that the soul is not relaxed, but oppressed by the pain. From where comes also khairein "to rejoice", from the fact that the soul is relaxed because of pleasure. Or from ekhō "to have", through antiphrasis, that which one does not want to have. Or khô meaning "to give way", <hence> *khos; with the privative prefix, akhos, that which does not give way because of the pain. Or khô "to pour", with the privative prefix, akhos, that which is not poured. Or from ekhō "to have".

Comment

The notice sews together several sources, which explains the repetitions. The third etymology provided is a privative compound, as in the first two etymologies mentioned, the second element of which is the ghost form χάω supposed to mean χωρέω "to give way, to move back". Ἄχος is etymologized as the lasting pain, not receding.

Parallels

Ps.-Zonaras, Lexicon, alpha, p. 363 (Ἄχος. λύπη, σιωπὴν ἐπιφέρουσα. παρὰ τὸ μὴ διαχεῖσθαι ὑπὸ τῆς ἡδονῆς. ἢ παρὰ τὸ ἔχω, κατὰ ἀντίφρασιν, ὃ οὐ θέλει τὶς ἔχειν. ἢ παρὰ τὸ χῶ, τὸ χωρῶ, γίνεται χὼς καὶ μετὰ τοῦ στερητικοῦ α ἄχος. ἢ παρὰ τὸ χέω μετὰ τοῦ στερητικοῦ α ἡ μὴ διαχέουσα τὴν ψυχὴν, ἀλλὰ συνέχουσα)

Modern etymology

Ἄχος belongs with ἄχνυμαι, ἀχεύω. Cognate with Got. agis "fear", Sanscrite agha- "evil, bad" (Beekes, EDG)

Persistence in Modern Greek

No

Entry By

Le Feuvre