A Proto-Indo-European word for 'spider'? : un-weaving the prehistory of the Greek ἀράχνη and the Latin arāneus
Roč.27,č.1(2022)
Abstrakt
Klíčová slova:
etymology; laryngeal dissimilation; nominal derivation; Graeco-Latin isogloss
Stránky:
69–89
The Greek ἀράχνη and the Latin arāneus 'spider' have long been considered cognates, yet a convincing etymology is still missing. Based on words for 'spider' in other Indo-European traditions that are predominantly derived from roots and verbs meaning 'weave', 'spin', and the like, we assume that the root at the core of Gk. ἀράχνη and Lat. arāneus had similar semantics. Analysing the preform *araksnā as *h₂ŕ̥h₂⁽g̑⁾sneh₂-, we recognize the underlying root *h₂reh₂⁽g̑⁾- 'weave' not only in ἀράχνη and arāneus, but also in the Gk. ῥῆγος 'rug, blanket' and the root noun ῥώξ 'a kind of venomous spider', the continuant of a former agent noun 'weaver'.
etymology; laryngeal dissimilation; nominal derivation; Graeco-Latin isogloss
69–89
