Ancient Greek

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Etymology

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Apparently a reduplicated intensive yod-present verb *μαρ-μαρ-ι̯ω (*mar-mar-i̯ō) from a root form *μᾰρ- (*mar-), of uncertain ultimate origin.

Traditionally derived from a Proto-Indo-European *mer- (to sparkle, glimmer, gleam); an analysis by Tichy suggests an onomatopoeic origin for the Greek and similar words across Indo-European, which may or may not have been inherited. (This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Particularly: “What comparanda does Tichy use? Beekes mentions Tichy but nothing more.”) Beekes thus prefers to take the word as Pre-Greek, particularly with the adducement of ᾰ̓μᾰρῠ́σσω (amarússō, to sparkle, twinkle), which has a prothetic vowel, as related.

The word has been compared to Sanskrit मरीचि (márīci, particulate light; shining mote), मुर्मुर (múrmura; múrmara (v.l.), burning chaff; dying embers) and Latin merus. Beekes rejects the connection with मरीचि (márīci) (and doesn't give an opinion on the other comparisons), taking the view that *a didn't exist in Proto-Indo-European, and thus considering an inherited connection between Sanskrit मर् (mar) and Greek *μαρ- (*mar-) untenable. He does, however, consider a connection with μᾰρῑ́λη (marī́lē, coaldust) and μᾰρῐεύς (marieús, stone that takes fire when water is poured on it) likely.[1]

See also μάρμαρος (mármaros, marble), which may be related.

Pronunciation

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Verb

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μᾰρμαίρω (marmaírō)

  1. (especially of metal) to flash, sparkle, glisten, gleam

Inflection

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Descendants

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  • Greek: μαρμαίρω (marmaíro)

References

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  1. ^ Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010) “μαρμαίρω”, in Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 10), with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, pages 906-7

Further reading

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