ἄγρα
Word
Validation
Yes
Word-form
ἄγρος
Word-lemma
Etymon-lemma
Transliteration (Word)
agros
English translation (word)
field
Transliteration (Etymon)
agra
English translation (etymon)
hunting
Century
5 AD
Source
Idem
Ref.
Etymologicum, alpha, p. 14
Ed.
F. Sturz, Orionis Thebani etymologicon, Leipzig, Weigel, 1820
Quotation
Ἀγρός, παρὰ τὴν ἄγραν ἐν ᾧ γίνεται· ἢ παρὰ τὸ ἀρῶ, ἀρὸς καὶ ἀγρὸς, πλεονασμῷ τοῦ γ
Translation (En)
Agros "field": from agra "hunting", <the place> in which <hunting> takes place. Or from arô "to plough", *aros and agros, through the addition of [g]
Parallels
Orion, Etymologicum (excerpta e cod regio 2610), p. 176 (Ἀγρός· παρὰ τὴν ἄγραν); idem, Etymologicum (excerpta e cod. Vat. gr. 1456) 40 (idem); Etym. Gudianum, alpha, p. 17 (Ἀγρός, παρὰ τὸ ἀρῶ τὸ ἀροτριῶ, ἀρὸς καὶ ἀγρὸς, ἢ παρὰ τὸ ἄρην, ὃ σημαίνει τὸν σίδηρον, ὁ τῷ σιδήρῳ τεμνόμενος); Etym. Magnum, Kallierges, p. 13 (Ἀγρός: Παρὰ τὴν ἄγραν, ἐν ᾧ γίνεται· ἢ παρὰ τὸ ἀρῶ τὸ ἀροτριῶ, ἀρὸς καὶ ἀγρός); Etym. Symeonis, vol. 1, p. 50 (idem)
Modern etymology
Old name of the field inherited from PIE *h2ég-ro-, cognate with Lat. ager, Ved. ájra-, Got. . It is derived from the root of ἄγω "to lead" (Beekes, EDG)
Persistence in Modern Greek
Αγρός is still used in MG designating the land/property and also in plural denoting the specific area. The phrase "αγρόν αγοράζω", meaning 'to be indifferent'. "Αγρο-" is a very frequent first compound in many MG words, such as "αγροτεμάχιο".
Entry By
Le Feuvre
Comment
Paronymic etymology which does not require any formal manipulation. Hunting takes place in non urban areas, including the fields, so that the field is the "hunting-place"