δέμω

Validation

Yes

Word-form

δέμνια

Transliteration (Word)

demnion

English translation (word)

bedstead, mattress

Transliteration (Etymon)

demō

English translation (etymon)

to build

Author

Etymologicum Gudianum

Century

11 AD

Source

Idem

Ref.

delta, 344

Ed.

E.L. de Stefani, Etymologicum Gudianum, fasc. 1 & 2, Leipzig, 1:1909; 2:1920

Quotation

Δέμνια· ἐγκοίτια στρώματα. ἀπὸ τοῦ δέμας εἰς αὐτὰ μένειν δέμνιον· ἢ παρὰ τὸ δέμω δέμνιον ὡς παίζω παίγνιον, τὸ εἰς σώματος ἀνάπαυσιν ᾠκοδομημένον· ἢ συνδεθέν· ἢ παρὰ τὸ δεδεσμῆσθαι ἡμᾶς κοιμωμένους μηδὲν πράττοντας

Translation (En)

Demnia "bedstead": the mattress in the bed, from the fact that the body (demas) remains in them, hence demnion; or from demō "to build", one derives demnion, as from paizō "to play" one derives paignion "toy", that which is built for the relaxation of the body ; or that which is bound (sundethen) ; or from the fact that we are chained (dedesmēsthai) when we are in bed, doing nothing

Comment

Paronymic etymology, which has found advocates among modern scholars although it is probably not correct

Parallels

Etym. magnum, Kallierges p. 255 (Ἢ ὡς παίζω παίγνιον, οὕτως δέμω δέμνιον, τὸ εἰς σώματος ἀνάπαυσιν οἰκοδομηθὲν, ἢ συνδεθέν); Etym. Symeonis, delta 123 (Δέμνια· ἐγκοίτια στρώματα· ἀπὸ τοῦτο δέμας ἐπ’ αὐτὰ μένειν δέμνιον, ἢ παρὰ τὸ δέμω δέμνιον, ὡς παίζω παίγνιον· τὸ εἰς σώματος ἀνάπαυσιν ᾠκοδομημένον ἢ συνδεθέν)

Modern etymology

Probably from δέω "to bind", with the same -mn- suffix as in κρήδεμνον "headband" (Beekes, EDG)

Persistence in Modern Greek

No

Entry By

Le Feuvre