θύω2 + γαστήρ

Validation

No

Word-form

θυγάτηρ

Transliteration (Word)

thugatēr

English translation (word)

daughter

Transliteration (Etymon)

thuō + gastēr

English translation (etymon)

to rage + belly

Author

Herodian

Century

2 AD

Reference

Peri pathôn, Lentz III/2, p. 300

Edition

A. Lentz, Grammatici graeci, vol. III/2, Leipzig 1870.

Source

Epimerismi homerici

Ref.

Epimerismi homerici Il. 1.95

Ed.

A. Dyck, Epimerismi homerici, pars prior epimerismos continens qui ad Iliadis librum A pertinent, Berlin 1983

Quotation

θυγάτηρ: παρὰ τὸ θύειν κατὰ γαστέρα καὶ ὁρμᾶν. λέγεται τὰ θήλεια τάχιον κινεῖσθαι ἐν γαστρὶ ὄντα. οὕτως Ἡρωδιανός

Translation (En)

Thugatēr "daughter": from the fact that it rages (thuein) and moves violently in the womb (kata gastera). And females are said to move more quickly while in the womb. This is what Herodian says

Comment

The word is parsed as a compound: γαστήρ was an obvious candidate (by Greek criteria) for the second part -γάτηρ, implying only one change, the loss of [s]. A connection between "daughter" and a word meaning "belly" in general, and which can in some contexts refer to the womb, makes sense. The beginning of the word was then etymologized through what was ready at hand, that is, beginning with θυ-, θύω "to rage, to move violently". The etymology is justified by a supposedly general remark on the behavior of male and female fetuses.

Parallels

Choeroboscus, Epimerismi in Psalmos, p. 114 (παρὰ τὸ θύειν καὶ ὁρμᾶν κατὰ γαστρός); Etym. Parvum, theta 4 (Θύγατρα· ἐκ τοῦ θυγατέρα κατὰ συγκοπὴν καὶ ἀνάδοσιν τοῦ τόνου· ἀρμόσαντες ἄρσαντες, ὁμόπατρος ὅπατρος· γέγονε δὲ παρὰ τὸ θύω καὶ τὸ γαστήρ· τὸ γὰρ θήλεον τάχιόν φασιν κινεῖσθαι ἐν τῇ μήτρᾳ); Epimerismi homerici Il. 1.13 (γέγονε δὲ τὸ θυγάτηρ παρὰ τὸ θύω καὶ τὸ γαστήρ· λέγουσι γὰρ τὰ θήλεα τάχιον κινεῖσθαι ἐν τῇ μήτρᾳ); Etym. Gudianum, theta, p. 266 (Θυγάτηρ, παρὰ τὸ θύειν κατὰ γαστέρα. τάχιον γὰρ τῶν ἀῤῥένων ἐν γαστρὶ κινεῖται); Etym. Magnum, Kallierges, p. 457 (Θυγάτηρ: Παρὰ τὸ θύειν καὶ ὁρμᾶν κατὰ γαστρός· ἐκ τοῦ θύω καὶ τοῦ γαστήρ· λέγεται γὰρ τὰ θήλεα τάχιον κινεῖσθαι ἐν τῇ μήτρᾳ); Ps.-Zonaras, Lexicon, theta, p. 1061 (Θυγάτηρ. παρὰ τὸ θύειν καὶ ὁρμᾷν κατὰ γαστρός. λέγουσι γὰρ κινεῖσθαι ταχέως τὰ θήλεα ἐν τῇ γαστρὶ ὄντα)

Modern etymology

Isolated within Greek. Old name of the daughter inherited from PIE, cognate with Engl. daughter, Ved. duhitar-, Ru. dočь (Beekes, EDG)

Persistence in Modern Greek

MG still has θυγατέρα to designate 1. the 'daughter', 2. something originating from something else, but the usual word for the 'daughter' is κόρη. There also is the adjective θυγατρικός, 'a firm which functions as a branch of a bigger one'.

Entry By

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