μύρμηξ: Difference between revisions

|etymtx=-ηκος<br />Grammatical information: m.<br />Meaning: [[ant]]; metaph. [[submarine rocks]] (IA, Lyc.), also as PN (Hdt.), on the meaning cf. <b class="b3">μυρμηκία</b>; [[gantlet with metal studs]] (Poll.).<br />Other forms: Dor. (Theoc.) <b class="b3">μύρμαξ</b>, <b class="b3">ακος</b>. Also <b class="b3">μύρμος</b> (Lyc.), <b class="b3">βύρμαξ βόρμαξ</b>, <b class="b3">ὅρμικας</b> H.<br />Compounds: Rare compp., e.g. <b class="b3">μυρμηκο-λέων</b> (LXX), <b class="b3">λεοντο-μύρμηξ</b> (Hdn. Gr.) name of a fabulous animal; cf. Risch IF 59, 256.<br />Derivatives: 1. <b class="b3">μυρμηκ-ιά</b> f. <b class="b2">ant-hill</b> (Arist., Thphr.), metaph. [[crowd]] (Com. Adesp., H.), [[triller]], [[arpeggio]] (Pherecr.). -- 2. <b class="b3">μυρμηκ-ία</b> <b class="b2">wart under the skin, irritation caused by it</b> (Hp., Ph.) with <b class="b3">μυρμηκιάω</b> [[be afflicted with warts]] (LXX.), from which <b class="b3">-ίασις</b> (medic.). On 1. a. 2. s. Scheller Oxytonierung 41 f. -- 3. <b class="b3">μυρμήκ-(ε)ιον</b> n. name of an ant-like spider (Nic., Plin.). -- 4. <b class="b3">μυρμηκ-ίας λίθος</b> <b class="b2">stone with ant- or wart-like lumps on it</b> (Plin.), μύρμηξ <b class="b3">χρυσός</b> <b class="b2">gold dug out by μύρμηκες</b> (Hld.). -- 5. <b class="b3">-ῖτις</b> (<b class="b3">λίθος</b>) <b class="b2">id.</b> (Plin.). -- 6. <b class="b3">μυρμηκ-ώδης</b> <b class="b2">ant-like</b> (Plu.), <b class="b3">-ώεις</b> [[full of warts]] (Marc. Sid.; metr. lengthened from <b class="b3">-όεις</b>, cf. Schwyzer 527). -- 7. <b class="b3">μυρμηκ-ίζω</b> as medic. expression [[feel as though ants were running under the finger]], of the pulse, [[itch]] (medic.). -- On itself stands <b class="b3">μυρ-μηδών ξυνοικία τῶν μυρμήκων</b>, <b class="b3">μυρμηδόνες οἱ μύρμηκες ὑπὸ Δωριέων</b> H., transformation of <b class="b3">μύρμηξ</b> resp. derivation from <b class="b3">μύρμος</b> (s. above) after <b class="b3">τενθρηδών</b> and other insectnames; cf. also <b class="b3">σφηκών</b> and other place-indications in <b class="b3">-ών</b>; old variation [[k]] : [[d]] assumes Specht Ursprung 205 a. 230 [impossible].<br />Origin: IE [Indo-European] [749] <b class="b2">*moru̯i-</b> [[ant]]<br />Etymology: For the formation cf. <b class="b3">σκώληξ</b>, <b class="b3">σφήξ</b> a.o. (Schwyzer 497, Chantraine Form. 380 f.); a velar suffix, prob. without genetic connection with <b class="b3">μύρμηξ</b>, is also seen in Lat. [[formīca]] [[ant]] and Skt. <b class="b2">valmīka-</b> m. n. <b class="b2">ant-hill</b>. -- The basis is seen in different forms in many IE languages, mostly with anlaut. [[m]] and in-(aus)laut. <b class="b2">-u̯-</b>, also with inlaut. <b class="b2">-r-</b>: IE <b class="b2">*moru̯-ī </b> in Av. <b class="b2">maoiri-</b>, Celt., e.g. OIr. [[moirb]], Slav., e.g. ORuss. [[morovij]]; IE <b class="b2">*mour-</b>, <b class="b2">*meur-</b> in Germ., e.g. OWNo. [[maurr]] -n. (PGm. <b class="b2">*maura-</b>), OSwed. [[myra]] f. (PGm. <b class="b2">*meuriōn-</b>). Besides with anlaut. <b class="b2">u̯-</b> and inlaut. <b class="b2">-m-</b> : Skt. <b class="b2">vamrá-</b> m. (cf. [[valmīka]] above), thus <b class="b3">βόρμαξ</b>, <b class="b3">βύρμαξ</b> with <b class="b3">β-</b> for <b class="b3">Ϝ-</b>; in <b class="b3">ὅρμικας</b> a <b class="b3">Ϝ-</b> may have been lost. On itself stand Lat. [[formīca]], whose <b class="b2">f-</b> however may go back through dissimilation to <b class="b2">m-</b> (cf. on <b class="b3">μορμώ</b>) and which would then be close to <b class="b3">μύρμηξ</b>. -- Further details on this old and popular word with diff. hypotheses on its development in WP. 2, 306f., Pok. 749. W.-Hofmann and Ernout-Meillet s. [[formīca]], Vasmer s. <b class="b2">muravéj</b>; also Fraenkel s. <b class="b2">marvà</b>, which however because of its deviant meaning ('horse-fly') must be kept apart.