νείφω + ἕλκω
Word
Validation
No
Word-form
νεφέλη
Word-lemma
Transliteration (Word)
nephelē
English translation (word)
cloud
Transliteration (Etymon)
neiphō + helkō
English translation (etymon)
to snow + to draw
Century
10 AD
Source
Idem
Ref.
Suda, nu 273
Ed.
A. Adler, Suidae Lexicon, Leipzig: Teubner, 1928-1935
Quotation
ἐτυμολογεῖται νεφέλη παρὰ τὸ νείφειν, ὅ ἐστι βρέχειν, καὶ τὸ ἕλκειν. ἡ βροχὴν ἐφελκομένη
Translation (En)
Nephelē "cloud" is etymologized from neiphein "to rain" and helkein "to draw", the one which brings rain
Parallels
There is no parallel
Modern etymology
Νεφέλη belongs with νέφος "cloud", not with νείφω "to snow" and is cognate with Lat. nebula "cloud", Germ. Nebel, Ved. nábhas- "cloud" (Beekes, EDG)
Persistence in Modern Greek
The word is still used in Modern Greek as a learned word to designate the 'cloud', while it also exists as a proper name. There also is the word νεφέλωμα.
Entry By
Le Feuvre
Comment
The word is parsed as a compound, with νείφω as its first member as in the standard etymology. The second member is assumed to be ἕλκω, which implies the dropping of the [k]. From the semantic point of view, the etymology is parallel to νεφέλη / νείφω + ἐλάω. Ἕλκω is also assumed as the second member, with various preverbs, in another etymology, but the combination νείφω + ἕλκω is found only there.