ἵσταμαι + αὔρα

Validation

Yes

Word-form

σταυρούς

Transliteration (Word)

stauros

English translation (word)

upright pale, (later) cross

Transliteration (Etymon)

histamai + aura

English translation (etymon)

to stand + breeze

Author

Hesychius

Century

5/6 AD

Source

Idem

Ref.

Lexicon p. 1665

Ed.

P.A. Hansen, Hesychii alexandrini Lexicon (vol. 3), Berlin - New York, 2009

Quotation

σταυρούς· ἐκ τοῦ εἰς τὴν αὔραν ἵστασθαι

Translation (En)

upright pales; from their "standing" (ἵστασθαι) in the "breeze" (αὔραν)

Other translation(s)

Modern Greek: σταυρούς: από το ότι στέκονται (ἵστασθαι) στον αέρα (αὔραν)

Comment

The word is analysed as a compound of histamai "to stand", which is correct and generally admitted by Greek lexicographers (see Parallels), and aura "breeze", which is not, because of the phonetic similarity. Stephanus identifies the second element of the "compound" stauros as aēr "air" rather than aura "breeze" (Vallus, Palus ligneus acutus et erectus: ab ἵστασθαι dictus, quoniam ἵσταται εἰς ἀέρα ᾐρμένος): this is less close phonetically but more understandable semantically. In general, σταυρός is connected to "ἵστημι/ἵσταμαι" but also to "πήγνυμι" (= stick/fix in) in several cases in ancient texts: Homer, Od. 14.11-14, Thucyd. 4.90.2.3 & 6.100.3.3, Xenoph. Anab. 7.4.14.5, Plut. Flam. 944

Parallels

Hesych., sigma 1664: σταυροί· οἱ καταπεπηγότες σκόλοπες, χάρακες, καὶ πάντα τὰ ἑστῶτα ξύλα, ἀπὸ τοῦ ἑστάναι

Modern etymology

The word has an exact counterpart in Old Icelandic staurr. A name is supposed on the basis of Latin instaurare "re-establish". Indo-European root *steh2- (Lat. stare, Gr. histamai, Skt. tiṣṭhati, Engl. stay, stand, Germ. stehen)

Persistence in Modern Greek

The word is used in MG to denote: a) the 'cross', made of two pieces of wood for execution, b) the symbol of Jesus Christ and Christianity, c) the figure of a cross, d) the gesture of a cross, e) any object figuring a cross (Triandafyllidis, Dict. of MG)

Entry By

Maria Chriti