ζάω + μιαρός
Word
Validation
No
Word-form
ζημία
Word-lemma
Transliteration (Word)
zēmia
English translation (word)
damage, penalty
Transliteration (Etymon)
zaō + miaros
English translation (etymon)
to live + defiled
Century
10 AD
Source
Idem
Ref.
Suda, alpha 592
Ed.
A. Adler, Suidae Lexicon, Leipzig: Teubner, 1928-1935
Quotation
Ἀζήμιος: ἀβλαβής. κυρίως δὲ ζημία ἡ τῆς ζωῆς μείωσις, ἢ τὸ ἐν ζωῇ μιαρόν
Translation (En)
Azēmios "unpunished": unharmed. Because zēmia "penalty" means properly the lessening (meiōsis) of life (zōēs), or that which in life is stained
Parallels
Scholia in Aristophanem, Plut. 272 (ἀζήμιος: Ἀντὶ τοῦ ἀβλαβής· κυρίως δὲ ζημία ἡ τῆς ζωῆς μείωσις, ἢ τὸ ἐν τῇ ζωῇ μιαρόν)
Modern etymology
Unclear (Beekes, EDG)
Persistence in Modern Greek
Ζημία and its contracted form ζημιά are used in Modern Greek to designate: 1. the total or partial destruction of a thing/wealth by accident, 2. any kind of damage, e.g., moral.
Entry By
Le Feuvre
Comment
The etymon is assumed to be the cause, the lemma the consequence: the penalty is inflicted in punishment for wrong actions done during life. Μιαρός "defiled", as an equivalent for "ugly, wrong" is picked up only because it provides the required sequence [mia].