ἀρήγω
Word
Validation
Word-form
Word-lemma
Etymon-lemma
Transliteration (Word)
English translation (word)
Transliteration (Etymon)
English translation (etymon)
Century
Source
Ref.
Ed.
Quotation
ἀργούς: λευκούς. δύο σημαίνει ἀργός, τὸν νωθρὸν καὶ δυσκίνητον, μᾶλλον δὲ <ἀν>ενέργητον παρὰ τὸ ἀ<ε>ργός τις εἶναι ἢ βοηθείας δεόμενος, παρὰ τὸ ἀρήγω, τὸ βοηθῶ· σημαίνει δὲ καὶ καθαρὸν καὶ λευκόν, ὡς ἐνταῦθα. γίνεται παρὰ τὸ ἀήρ ἀέρος ἀργός· διειδὴς γὰρ ὁ ἀὴρ καὶ διαφανὴς καὶ δίοσμος, ἅτε λεπτομερέστερος ὤν
Translation (En)
argous "white". Argos has two meanings: the slow and hard to move one, or rather the inactive one, from the fact that someone is without work (aergos), or needs help, from arēgō "to aid". It means also "pure and shining", as here, and it comes from aēr, aeros "air", argos. Because air is transparent and limpid and lets smells diffuse, as it is an extremely subtle element
Parallels
Etym. Gudianum, alpha, p. 187 (idem); Etym. Magnum, Kallierges, p. 136 (Ἀργός: Ὁ νωθρὸς καὶ δυσκίνητος, μᾶλλον δὲ ἀνενέργητος· παρὰ τὸ ἀεργός τις εἶναι· ἢ βοηθείας δεόμενος, παρὰ τὸ ἀρήγω τὸ βοηθῶ. Εἰ δὲ σημαίνει τὸν καθαρὸν καὶ λευκὸν, γίνεται παρὰ τὸ ἀὴρ ἀεργὸς, ὁ ἀργός. Διειδὴς γὰρ ὁ ἀὴρ καὶ διαφανὴς καὶ δίοσμος, ἅτε λεπτομερέστατος ὤν)
Comment
This etymology implying a syncope ([arēg] > [arg]) etymologizes the lazy and inactive one as the one who is unable to achieve anything by himself and requires external help. However, from ἀρήγω one would rather derive a noun with an active meaning "helper" than one with a passive meaning "helped, needing help". Diathesis was usually not taken into account by Greek etymologists in their semantic derivations.