νείφω + ἕλκω

Validation

No

Word-form

νεφέλη

Transliteration (Word)

nephelē

English translation (word)

cloud

Transliteration (Etymon)

neiphō + helkō

English translation (etymon)

to snow + to draw

Author

Suda

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

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.

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