λίαν + μαίνομαι
Word
Validation
No
Word-form
λίμνη
Word-lemma
Transliteration (Word)
limnē
English translation (word)
pool of standing water
Transliteration (Etymon)
lian + mainomai
English translation (etymon)
very much + to rage
Source
Idem
Ref.
Scholia in Batrachomyomachiam 10
Ed.
A. Ludwich, Die Homerische Batrachomachia des Karers Pigres: nebst Scholien und Paraphrase, Leipzig: Teubner, 1896: 198-308
Quotation
λίμνη σημαίνει δύο, τὴν θάλασσαν καὶ τὸ ἁπλῶς σύστημα τῶν ὑδάτων. ἐτυμολογεῖται δὲ ἡ μὲν ἀπὸ τοῦ λίαν μαίνεσθαι ἤγουν ἀγριοῦσθαι· ἡ δὲ ἀπὸ τοῦ λίαν μένειν· οὐ γὰρ τὰ ῥέοντα λίμναι λέγονται, ἀλλὰ τὰ ἱστάμενα
Translation (En)
Limnē has two meanings, the sea and the simple collection of water. The first one (limnē "sea") is etymologized from "to rage" (mainesthai) "very much" (lian), that is, to be stormy. The second one (limnē "standing water") from "to stay" (menein) "very much" (lian). As a matter of fact, flowing waters are not called limn, only standing waters are.
Parallels
There is no parallel
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
Comment
Complementary etymology designed to make piece to the usual one explaining λίμνη by λίαν + μένω. As a matter of fact, the latter etymology is fit for standing water, but λίμνη is sometimes used in poetry for the sea, which cannot be defined as "staying still". Therefore, for this contextual meaning, a different etymology was invented, which is the opposite of λίαν + μένω and defines the λίμνη "sea" as the stormy one (μαίνομαι "to rage" providing the required sequence [mn]). This scholion is by Moschopoulos (end of the 13th c. - beg. of the 14th c.), who draws on an earlier lost source.