λείπω

Validation

Yes

Word-form

λοιγός

Transliteration (Word)

loigos

English translation (word)

ruin

Transliteration (Etymon)

leipō

English translation (etymon)

to leave

Author

Epimerismi homerici

Century

9 AD

Source

Idem

Ref.

Epimerismi homerici in Iliadem 1, 67a

Ed.

A. Dyck, Epimerismi homerici, pars prior epimerismos continens qui ad Iliadis librum A pertinent, Berlin 1983

Quotation

λ⸥οιγός: παρὰ τὸ λείπω λοιπός καὶ λοιγός· λεῖψιν γὰρ τῶν ἀν⸤θρώπων ἐργάζεται⸥

Translation (En)

Loigos "ruin": from leipō "to leave", loipos and loigos. Because it results in the failure of men

Comment

The etymology relies on the usual alternation between o grade and e grade (λοιπός ~ λείπω). From λείπω is derived λοιπός, which is then, through a formal manipulation, changed into λοιγός. Semantically, the etymology relies on the idea that ruin brings lack of everything (λείπω in the meaning "not to be enough")

Parallels

Etym. Genuinum, lambda 137 (Λοιγόν: ὄλεθρον. παρὰ τὸ <***> λοιμὸς καὶ λοιγός. λοιμὸς δέ ἐστιν ἔνδεια τῶν σωμάτων, λιμὸς δὲ ἔνδεια σίτου); Etym. Gudianum, lambda, p. 372 (Λοιγὸς, ὁ ὄλεθρος, παρὰ τὸ λείπω λοιπὸς καὶ λοιγός· λεῖψιν γὰρ τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἐργάζεται); Etym. Magnum, Kallierges, p. 568 (idem); Eustathius, Comm. Il. 1, 80 Van der Valk (Λοιγὸς δὲ ὁ ὄλεθρος ἢ ἀπὸ τοῦ λείπω κατὰ τοὺς παλαιούς, ὅθεν καὶ ὁ λοιμός, φασίν, ὁ κατά τε νόσον καὶ ὁ φθορεύς. ἢ μᾶλλον παρὰ τὸ λέγω ὁ λέγων, ὅ ἐστι κοιμίζων εἰς θάνατον. μάλιστα δὲ παρὰ τὸ ὀλίγος μεταθέσει τοῦ ο, ὁ ὀλιγῶν τοὺς ζῶντας)

Modern etymology

Within Greek, maybe related to ὀλίγος "small" (despite Beekes' scepticism). Cognate is Lith. líegti "to be ill" (Beekes, EDG)

Persistence in Modern Greek

No

Entry By

Le Feuvre