δέος + λίαν

Validation

Yes

Last modification

Sat, 07/31/2021 - 11:41

Word-form

δειλία

Transliteration (Word)

deilia

English translation (word)

cowardice

Transliteration (Etymon)

deos + lian

English translation (etymon)

fear + excessively

Author

Orion

Century

5 AD

Source

Id.

Ref.

p. 177

Ed.

F. Sturz, Orionis Thebani etymologicon, Leipzig, Weigel, 1820

Quotation

δειλία· ἐκ τοῦ δέους λίαν

Translation (En)

Cowardice (deilia): from excessive (lian) fear (deos).

Comment

The etymological relationship with δέος is correct. The analysis as a compound containing λίαν is not. The principle of this explanation is the same as that in Plato, Cratylus 415c (see δεῖ / λίαν). The difference between both is that Plato starts from a sequence verb + adverb, whereas this one starts from a sequence noun + adverb: that cannot match a corresponding phrase since adverbs never modify nouns, but the internal syntax of compounds was not a question for Greek etymologists. 

Parallels

Etym. Gudianum, delta, p. 338 (δειλία· ἐκ τοῦ δέος λίαν).

Modern etymology

Δειλία is an abstract noun in -ία derived from δειλός "coward", belonging with δέος "fear", δείδω "I fear". Indo-European root *dwei- (Beekes, EDG).

Persistence in Modern Greek

The word "δειλία" is still used in MG with the meaning 'lack of courage, cowardice' (Triandafyllidis Dictionary of MG).

Entry By

Le Feuvre