νη- + φάος
Word
Validation
No
Word-form
νεφέλη
Word-lemma
Transliteration (Word)
nephelē
English translation (word)
cloud
Transliteration (Etymon)
nē- + phaos
English translation (etymon)
not + light
Source
Idem
Ref.
Scholia in Aristophanem, Nubes 252b (scholia anonyma recentiora)
Ed.
W.J.W. Koster, Prolegomena de comoedia. Scholia in Acharnenses, Equites, Nubes [Scholia in Aristophanem 1.3.2. Groningen: Bouma, 1974]
Quotation
νεφέλη ἐτυμολογεῖται παρὰ τὸ νᾶμα ἐφέλκειν ἐκ τῆς ἁλός, ἢ ⸢ἀπὸ τοῦ νε στερητικοῦ μορίου καὶ τοῦ φάος, τὸ φῶς, Reg ἡ ἐστερημένη φωτός ⸢παρὰ τὸ ** Chis, ἢ παρὰ τὸ νίφω τὸ βρέχω
Translation (En)
Nephelĕ "cloud" is etymologized from the fact that it drags the running waters from the sea, Or from the privative prefix ne- and phaos "light", the one deprived of light from **, or from neiphō "to rain"
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.
Comment
Same explanation as for νέφος (see νέφος / νη- + φάος)