σῶμα + φρουρέω
Word
Validation
Yes
Word-form
σωφροσύνην
Word-lemma
Transliteration (Word)
sōfrosunē
English translation (word)
soundness of mind
Transliteration (Etymon)
sōma + phroureō
English translation (etymon)
body + to watch
Century
4 AD?
Source
Idem
Ref.
Liber de definitionibus, Migne, MPG vol. 28, p. 552
Ed.
Migne, Patrologia Graeca, Paris, 1857-1866
Quotation
Σωφροσύνη ἢ κατὰ τὸ σῶα φρονεῖν ἢ διὰ τὸ σῶμα φρουρεῖν ἀπὸ ῥύπου
Translation (En)
Sōphrosunē "soundness of mind" is thus called from "to have sound thoughts" (sōa phroneîn), or because it keeps (phroureîn) the body (sōma) from filth
Parallels
Anastasius Syn., Viae dux 2, 8 (idem); Etym. Gudianum, sigma p. 520 (σωφροσύνη ἢ κατὰ τὸ σῶα φρονεῖν ἢ διὰ τὸ σῶμα φρουρεῖν ἀπὸ ῥύπου. καὶ εἰς τὸ παρθενίαν) ; Etym. Magnum, Kallierges p. 742 (σωφροσύνη: παρὰ τὸ σῴζειν τὸ φρονεῖν· ἢ παρὰ τὸ σῶμα φρουρεῖν ἀπὸ ῥύπου· ἢ διὰ τὸ σῶα φρονεῖν)
Modern etymology
Derivative from σώφρων "wise", from σῶς (σάος) "safe and sound" + φρήν
Persistence in Modern Greek
The word is still used in Modern Greek with the meaning 'prudence'
Entry By
Le Feuvre
Comment
This etymology appears with Christian authors, and is intimately linked with the idea that sōphrosunē, which in Christian authors means "temperance", is what preserves men from sin. This is why it can sometimes be taken, in a Christian context, as an equivalent for "virginity" (see Etym. Gudianum). From the formal point of view, the etymology analyses sōphrosunē as a portmanteau word combining the first syllable of sōma "body" with the first syllable of phroureō "to keep"