λείβω

Validation

No

Word-form

λίμνη

Transliteration (Word)

limnē

English translation (word)

pool of standing water

Transliteration (Etymon)

leibō

English translation (etymon)

to pour

Author

Orion

Century

5 AD

Source

Idem

Ref.

Etymologicum, lambda, p. 91

Ed.

F. Sturz, Orionis Thebani etymologicon, Leipzig, Weigel, 1820

Quotation

Λίμνη. τὰ συνεστῶτα ὕδατα. παρὰ τὸ λίαν καὶ διόλου μένειν. διὸ καὶ ὁ <Ὠκεανὸς>, ἀκαλαρείτης ὤν. ἢ παρὰ τὸ λείβειν, ὅ ἐστι ῥεῖν  [The text has †ὁ κενος, the formulation is restored after the Etym. Magnum]

Translation (En)

Limnē "pool of standing water". The standing waters. From the fact that they stay still (menein) very much (lian) and completely. That is why Ocean too (is a limnē), as it flows softly. Or from leibein "to pour", that is, "to flow"

Comment

The word is analyzed as a derivative of λείβω, which implies two formal manipulations not explicitly mentioned, the change of [b] to [m] and the loss of [e]. The λίμνη is defined after the fact that water has been poured to some place and remains there.

Parallels

Etym. Gudianum, lambda, p. 370 (Λίμνη, ἡ συναγωγὴ τῶν ὑδάτων· εἴτε παρὰ τὸ λείβειν, εἴτε παρὰ τὸ λίαν μένειν ἐν αὐτῷ τὰ πλοῖα, ὃ καὶ μᾶλλον στάσιμον τὸ ὕδωρ τῶν λίμνων); Etym. Magnum, Kallierges, p. 566 (Λίμνη: Τὰ συνεστῶτα ὕδατα· παρὰ τὸ λίαν καὶ διόλου μένειν· διὸ καὶ ὁ Ὠκεανὸς, ἀκαλαρείτης   ὢν, λίμνη κέκληται· ‘Ἠέλιος δ’ ἀνόρουσε λιπὼν περικαλλέα λίμνην’. Οὕτως εὗρον ἐν ὑπομνήμασι τῆς Ἰλιάδος. Καὶ ἐν ἄλλῳ, παρὰ τὸ λείβειν, ὅ ἐστι ῥεῖν. Καὶ λιμὴν ὁμοίως, παρὰ τὸ λίαν μένειν ἐν αὐτῷ τὸ ὕδωρ. Λίμνη λέγεται καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς θαλάσσης)

Modern etymology

Λίμνη is a derivative of λιμήν "harbour"

Persistence in Modern Greek

The word is used in Modern Greek to designate 1. 'the lake' and 2. any accumulated liquid, e.g., "λίμνη αίματος".

Entry By

Le Feuvre