γέφυρα: Difference between revisions

|Definition=(Boeot. βέφυρα <span class="bibl">Stratt.47.5</span>), Lacon. δίφουρα Hsch., Cret. δέφυρα <span class="title">GDI</span>5000 ii <span class="sense"><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class="bld">A</span> [[b]] 6 (Gortyn), ἡ (used by Hom. only in Il., always in pl.):—[[dyke]], [[dam]], ποταμῷ πλήθοντι ἐοικὼς χειμάρρῳ, ὅς τ' ὦκα ῥέων ἐκέδασσε γεφύρας· τὸν δ' οὔτ' ἄρ τε γέφυραι ἐεργμέναι ἰσχανόωσι <span class="bibl">Il.5.88</span>; cf. [[γεφυρόω]]: metaph., <b class="b3">πολέμοιο γέφυραι</b>, expld. by Sch.Il. as <b class="b3">αἱ δίοδοι τῶν φαλάγγων</b>, i. e. the <b class="b2">open space</b> between hostile armies, but more prob. [[limits]] of the battlefield, <span class="bibl">Il.4.371</span>, <span class="bibl">11.160</span>, etc.; <b class="b3">πόντου γ</b>. of the Isthmus of Corinth, [[causeway]] through the sea, <span class="bibl">Pi.<span class="title">N.</span>6.39</span>, cf.<span class="bibl"><span class="title">I.</span> 4(3).20</span>; so, of the [[causeway]] between Athens and Eleusis, <span class="title">Carm.Pop.</span>9; at the Euripus, <span class="bibl">Str.9.2.2</span>. </span><span class="sense">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class="bld">II</span> after Hom., in sg., [[bridge]], γέφυραν ζευγνύναι <span class="bibl">Hdt.4.97</span>, cf. <span class="bibl">1.75</span> (pl.); γ. γαῖν δυοῖν ζευκτηρίαν <span class="bibl">A. <span class="title">Pers.</span>736</span>; γ. λῦσαι <span class="bibl">X.<span class="title">An.</span>2.4.17</span>; πόρον ὑπὲρ γεφυρῶν ἄγοντες <span class="bibl">Lib. <span class="title">Or.</span>11.243</span>; also, of <b class="b2">a tunnel</b>, ὑποστείχει γ. <span class="bibl">Philostr.<span class="title">VA</span>1.25</span>.</span>

|etymtx=Grammatical information: f.<br />Meaning: [[bridge]]; on other meanings in Homer s. below (Il.)<br />Other forms: Böot. <b class="b3">βέφυρα</b>, Cret. <b class="b3">δέφυρα</b>, Lak. <b class="b3">δίφουρα</b> (H.)<br />Derivatives: <b class="b3">γεφυρίς πόρνη τις ἐπὶ γεφύρας</b>, <b class="b3">ὡς</b> `<b class="b3">Ηρακλέων</b> H. (also with another meaning); denomin. <b class="b3">γεφυρόω</b> <b class="b2">make a bridge</b> (Ion.-Att.; Il. <b class="b2">dam up</b> s. below', ) with <b class="b3">γεφύρωσις</b> (Str.), <b class="b3">γεφύρωμα</b> [[bridge]] (J.), <b class="b3">γεφυρωτής</b> <b class="b2">builder of b.</b> (Plu.); <b class="b3">γεφυρίζω</b> [[abuse]] (Plu.), acc. to H. "<b class="b3">ἐπεὶ ἐν Ἐλευσῖνι ἐπὶ τῆς γεφύρας τοῖς μυστηρίοις καθεζόμενοι ἔσκωπτον τοὺς παριόντας</b>"; from there <b class="b3">γεφυρισμός</b> (Str.), <b class="b3">γεφυριστής</b> (Plu.).<br />Origin: PG [a word of Pre-Greek origin]<br />Etymology: The variation of the first consonant suggests labiovelar <b class="b2">gʷ-</b>, but then the <b class="b3">γ-</b> cannot be explained. The evidently cognate Arm. <b class="b2">kamurǰ</b> [[bridge]] gives also unsurmountable problems if the word were IE. Beekes, Glotta ?? (2004), ??-?? follows Fur. 97 etc. in connecting Hattic [[hammuruwa]] [[beam]]. The word is an Anatolian loan (or Pre-Greek?). An original meaning [[beam]] fits all passages in Homer, and notably the expression <b class="b3">πολέμοιο γεφύρας</b>, where it has the same meaning as phalanx (`tree, beam'). The form with <b class="b3">-ι-</b> and <b class="b3">-ου-</b> point to Pre-Greek.