τηρέω + φύσις
Word
Validation
No
Word-form
τροφήν
Word-lemma
Transliteration (Word)
trophē
English translation (word)
nourishment
Transliteration (Etymon)
tēreō + phusis
English translation (etymon)
to guard + nature
Century
1-2 AD
Source
Idem
Ref.
Quaestiones convivales 688a
Ed.
G.N. Bernardakis, Plutarch. Moralia. Leipzig, Teubner, 1889 (2)
Translation (En)
Parallels
Porphyrius, De abstinentia 4.20 (καθαρμὸς δὲ ὁ πάντων τούτων χωρισμὸς καὶ ἁγνεία ἡ μόνωσις καὶ τροφὴ τὸ τηροῦν ἕκαστον ἐν τῷ εἶναι)
Modern etymology
Action noun matching τρέφω "to thicken, to feed", PIE *dhrebh- (Beekes, EDG)
Persistence in Modern Greek
Yes
Entry By
Le Feuvre
Comment
Compositional etymology implying a segmentation *τηρο-φυ- [tiro-phi], a syncope in the first syllable and a iotacizing pronunciation merging η and ι. From the semantic point of view, it is a functional etymology, as nourishment is etymologized by its aim and function.