σέλας: Difference between revisions

{{etym

|etymtx=-αος<br />Grammatical information: n.<br />Meaning: [[light]], [[glow]], [[beam]] (ep. poet. Il., Arist. etc.; on the use in Hom. Graz Le feu dans l'Il. et l'Od. 310ff.).<br />Compounds: <b class="b3">σελασ-φόρος</b> <b class="b2">bringing light</b> (A. a. o.), with analog. <b class="b3">-η-</b>: <b class="b3">σελαη-φόρος</b> (Man.), <b class="b3">-γενέτης</b> (AP).<br />Derivatives: 1. <b class="b3">σελά-ω</b> <b class="b2">to shine, to glow</b> (Nic. Th. 691) with <b class="b3">-σμα</b>, <b class="b3">-σμός</b> [[glow]] (Man.); 2. <b class="b3">-γέομαι</b> (E., Ar.), <b class="b3">-γέω</b> (Opp.) <b class="b2">to glow, to radiate</b> with <b class="b3">-γησις</b> f. [[glow]] (Zonar.); backformation <b class="b3">-γος</b> n. [[beam]] (Hymn. Is.); 3. enlarged <b class="b3">-γίζω</b> <b class="b2">id.</b> (Nonn. a. o.) with <b class="b3">-γισμα</b> n. [[lightning]], [[flash]] (Man.); 4. <b class="b3">-σσομαι</b> <b class="b2">to shine, to glow</b> (Nic. Th. 46); with <b class="b3">σελα-γέομαι</b> : <b class="b3">-σσομαι</b> cf. <b class="b3">πατα-γέω</b>, <b class="b3">-σσω</b> a. o., Debrunner IF 21, 220f.; 5. <b class="b3">-σκω</b> <b class="b2">to glow</b> (Theognost.). -- On [[σελήνη]], [[σέλαχος]] s. v.<br />Origin: XX [etym. unknown]<br />Etymology: No flawless etymology. Semant. attractive is the connection with Av. <b class="b2">xvarǝnah-</b> n. <b class="b2">glory of fame</b> (and Skt. <b class="b2">svàrnara-</b> approx. <b class="b2">splendour of light</b>?), where also the word for [[sun]] (s. [[ἥλιος]]) and the expressions for [[smoulder]], [[singe]] (s. 2. <b class="b3">εἵλη</b> <b class="b2">heatof the sun</b>) are relevant. Yet [[glow]], [[gleam]], [[glory]] and [[smoulder]] can at least not directly be combined with each other (cf. WP. 2, 531 f.). A special problem is moreover presented by the preservation of the anlaut. <b class="b3">σ-</b> in <b class="b3">σέλας</b>, for which several explanations have been advanced (Kretschmer KZ 31, 422f., Prellwitz s. v., Solmsen Unt. 209 n. 2; s. also Schwyzer 322). Already for this reason the comparison of <b class="b3">σελαγ-έω</b> with Skt. <b class="b2">svarg-á-</b> m. [[heaven]] (Persson Beitr. 2, 579 n. 2) is hardly recommendable, what however does not exclude, that the <b class="b3">γ-</b>element in <b class="b3">σελαγέω</b> may have a high age (Benveniste Origines 28; also Specht Ursprung 212). -- Diff. attempts at explanation from IE by Pisani Rend. Acc. Lincei Scr. VI: 7, 75 and Jb. f. kleinas. Forsch. 3, 150.

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