λάσθη

Validation

No

Last modification

Thu, 08/05/2021 - 14:03

Word-form

λοῖσθος

Transliteration (Word)

loisthos

English translation (word)

left behind

Transliteration (Etymon)

lasthē

English translation (etymon)

mockery

Author

Etym. Genuinum

Century

9 AD

Source

Idem

Ref.

lambda 140

Ed.

F. Lasserre and N. Livadaras, Etymologicum magnum genuinum. Symeonis etymologicum una cum magna grammatica. Etymologicum magnum auctum, vol. 2, Athens: Parnassos Literary Society, 1992

Quotation

Λοῖσθος καὶ λοίσθιον· οἱ μὲν παρὰ τὸ ὄλισθος καθ’ ὑπερβιβασμὸν τοῦ Λ λοῖσθος καὶ λοίσθιος· ὅτε γλώσσῃ πλεῖστος ὄλισθος ἔνι, ὁ ἔσχατος οἷον ὁ ἐξολισθήσας καὶ ἐμποδισθείς. ἢ παρὰ τὸ λάσθη, ὃ σημαίνει τὴν λοιδορίαν λαῖσθος καὶ λοῖσθος· ὁ γὰρ ἔσχατος ὕβρισται.

Translation (En)

Loisthos ("left behind") and loisthion: For some, from olisthos "slippery" through metathesis of the [l], loisthos and loisthios. When there is much slip of the tongue. The last one is the one who has slipped and who is hindered. Or from lasthē ("mockery"), which means the railing, *laisthos and loisthos. Indeed, who comes last is insulted.

Comment

Derivational etymology implying two formal manipulations, a change od the vowel and the insertion of an [I]. It relies on the metaphoric, moral meaning of "last": not physically at the extremity, but morally depreciated.

Parallels

Etym. Magnum Kallierges, p. 568 (Λοῖσθος: Ὁ ἔσχατος. Παρὰ τὸ ὄλισθος, καθ’ ὑπέρθεσιν τοῦ λ, λοῖσθος καὶ λοίσθιος, οἷον ὁ ἐξολισθήσας καὶ ἐμποδισθείς. Ἢ παρὰ τὸ λείπω, λόστος καὶ λοῖσθος. Ἢ παρὰ τὸ λάσθη, ὃ σημαίνει τὴν λοιδορίαν, λαῖσθος καὶ λοῖσθος· ὁ γὰρ ἔσχατος ὕβρισται).

Bibliography

B. Forssman, "λοῖσθος: der "Letzte" bei Wettrennen", Glotta 96, p. 75-81, argues for the relationship between λοῖσθος and ὀλισθάνω, assuming the Saussure effect (loss of the initial laryngeal in an o-grade form, *h3lisdh- / (h3)loisdh-), assuming the last one is the one who fell because he slipped. The formal aspect is faultless, the semantic aspect is much more disputable.

Modern etymology

Unclear. See the various attempts in Beekes, EDG. The etymology by ὀλισθάνω was defended by Forssman 2020

Persistence in Modern Greek

MG still has the derivative λοίσθια as a learned word in the phrase πνέει τα λοίσθια "to breathe one's last breath", but no longer the adjective itself

Entry By

Arthur de Tocqueville