αἰκίζω + ἄνθος
Word
Validation
Yes
Word-form
ἄκανθα
Word-lemma
Transliteration (Word)
akantha
English translation (word)
thorn, prickle
Transliteration (Etymon)
aikizō + anthos
English translation (etymon)
to maltreat, to defile + flower
Century
5 AD
Source
Idem
Ref.
Etymologicum, alpha, p. 176
Ed.
F. Sturz, Orionis Thebani etymologicon, Leipzig, Weigel, 1820
Quotation
Ἄκανθα· διὰ τὸ αἰκίζειν ἤγουν πλήττειν
Translation (En)
Akantha "thorn": because it "maltreats" (aikizein), that is, it beats
Parallels
Etym. Gudianum, alpha, p. 62 (Ἄκανθα· διὰ τὸ αἰκίζειν ἤγουν πλήττειν. ‖ ἢ παρὰ τὸ ἐν τῇ ἀκ⟦ῇ ἀνθεῖν, ἤγουν⟧ ἐν τῇ ὀξύτητι)
Modern etymology
Although the etymology ἀκ-ανθα "sharp flower" is sometimes advocated nowadays, the word is probably a loanword in Greek (Beekes, EDG)
Persistence in Modern Greek
MG still has άκανθα 1. as a learned word designating 'thorn' (the vernacular form is αγκάθι), 2. the acanthus, decoration of the corinthian column, 3. hard and accute protrusion in anatomy.
Entry By
Le Feuvre
Comment
The etymology is only half formulated: the given etymon, αἰκίζω, is meant to account for the initial ἀκ-, and not for the -ανθα. The latter was understood as the name of the flower but it seemed so obvious that it was not mentioned in the explanation. The etymology implies a formal manipulation, dropping of the [i] and transformation of the diphthong into a simple vowel. The name of the plant is derived from its effect on man, as it damages the skin