δέμας + μένειν
Word
Validation
Yes
Word-form
δέμνια
Word-lemma
Transliteration (Word)
demnion
English translation (word)
bedstead, mattress
Transliteration (Etymon)
demas + menō
English translation (etymon)
body + to stay
Century
1 AD
Source
Idem
Ref.
Lexicon homericum, delta, 344
Ed.
I. Bekker, Apollonii Sophistae lexicon Homericum, Berlin, 1833
Quotation
δέμνια τὰ στρώματα, ἀπὸ τοῦ τὸ δέμας ἐν αὐτοῖς μένειν
Translation (En)
Demnia means mattress, from the fact that the body (demas) remains (menein) in them
Parallels
Etym. Gudianum (Δέμνια· ἐγκοίτια στρώματα. ἀπὸ τοῦ δέμας εἰς αὐτὰ μένειν δέμνιον); Etym. Magnum (idem); Etym. Symeonis, delta 123 (ἀπὸ τοῦτο δέμας ἐπ’ αὐτὰ μένειν)
This etymology may be alluded to in Euripides, Orestes 311-313 ἀλλὰ κλῖνον εἰς εὐνὴν δέμας, | καὶ μὴ τὸ ταρβοῦν κἀκφοβοῦν σ’ ἐκ δεμνίων | ἄγαν ἀποδέχου, μένε δ’ ἐπὶ στρωτοῦ λέχους, where demniōn is framed by demas and mene
Modern etymology
Probably from δέω "to bind", with the same -mn- suffix as in κρήδεμνον "headband" (Beekes, EDG)
Persistence in Modern Greek
The word is not used in Modern Greek
Entry By
Le Feuvre
Comment
The word is analysed as a compound of dem(as) + m(e)n-, a purely paronymic etymology invented to fit the function of the mattress