λείπω

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Last modification

Thu, 08/05/2021 - 14:03

Word-form

λύπη

Transliteration (Word)

lupē

English translation (word)

sorrow

Transliteration (Etymon)

leipō

English translation (etymon)

to leave

Author

Anastasius Sinaïta

Century

7-8 AD

Source

Idem

Ref.

Viae dux 2.8

Ed.

K.-H. Uthemann, Anastasius Sinaïtae viae dux [Corpus Christianorum. Series Graeca 8. Turnhout: Brepols, 1981]

Quotation

λύπη γὰρ κατὰ τὸ λεῖπον εἴρηται

Translation (En)

Lupē "sorrow" is so named after leipon "missing"

Comment

Derivational etymology made possible by the confusion of [ei] and [u] into [I] (iotacism). Moral pain/grief is the result of a loss, therefore of something or someone missing. The lemma is the consequence and the etymon the cause

Parallels

Anastasius Sin., ibid., 2.8. (λύπη, «λείπει»· ἐπὶ λείψει γὰρ συνίσταται); idem, Capita vi adversus monotheletas (e cod. Vat. gr. 1409) 6.3 (λύπη γὰρ κατὰ τὸ λεῖπον λέγεται); Etym. Magnum, Kallierges, p. 571 (Ἢ λύπη, λείπη τίς· ἐπὶ λείψει γὰρ συνίσταται)

Modern etymology

Unclear. The connection with PIE *leup- "to peel (off)" is not very convincing (Beekes, EDG)

Persistence in Modern Greek

The word survives in Modern Greek to denote: 1. Intense psychic pain, 2. compassion, 3. sadness for something that has happened agains somebody's will.