Etymologically
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воинъ

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Forms

воинъ (voinŭ) m, o-stem[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Slavic *vojinъ (“soldier”), from *vojь (“soldier”), which OCS continues as the plural вои.[1][2] The word is Russian воин (voin), Ukrainian воїн (vojin), Czech vojín and Slovak vojín, and with other suffixes Bulgarian войник (vojnik), Serbo-Croatian vòjnīk, Slovene vojník, voják and Polish wojak.[2][3]

Wiktionary derives the base noun from Proto-Balto-Slavic *wájas and Proto-Indo-European *woyh₁-o-s, an o-grade noun of *weyh₁- (“to chase”), and Derksen likewise reconstructs it as *uoih₁-o-, with the root of повинѫти.[1][2][4] Vasmer relates it to Lithuanian výti (“to chase, pursue”), Sanskrit वेति (véti, “pursues, strives for”), Latin vēnor (“to hunt”), Old Norse veiðr (“hunting”) and Old High German weida (“hunting”), and notes the other ablaut grade in the same verb, “to subdue”.[3][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

In the Gospels воинъ translates Ancient Greek στρατιώτης (stratiṓtēs, “soldier”), as in the account of the crucifixion: воꙇни же егда пропѧшѧ ꙇс‹оус›а • приѩшѧ ризꙑ его “then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments” (J 19, 23 Zogr Mar).[5] It is also used for στρατευόμενοι (L 3, 14 Zogr Mar As Sav Ostr).[5][6]

Semantic evolution

The word renders στρατιώτης very often, and also στρατευόμενος, διωγμίτης, προτίκτωρ and στρατηγός; in Mc 6, 27 it stands for σπεκουλάτωρ, the soldier sent to bring a head, where the Ostromir Gospel has мечьникъ.[5][6] The plural вои means an army or host, for Ancient Greek στράτευμα (stráteuma) and στρατιά, as in мъножьство воі н‹е›б‹есь›скъꙇхъ “a multitude of the heavenly host” (L 2, 13).[5][6] In the Besědy (Bes), translated from Latin, it renders hostis “enemy”, and пръвꙑи or древьнии воинъ, “the old enemy”, is the devil.[5]

Later Church Slavonic kept the word and these senses: Miklosich records it also for πολεμιστής and μάχιμος, and Giltebrandt lists the New Testament uses for στρατιώτης, στράτευμα and στρατιά.[7][8]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A soldier, warrior; for στρατιώτης, στρατευόμενος.[5][6][1]
  2. A guard or executioner; for σπεκουλάτωρ, δήμιος.[5][6]
  3. (in the plural) An army, host; for στράτευμα, στρατιά, στρατός.[5][6]
  4. An enemy;[5] древьнии воинъ “the old enemy”, the devil; for Latin hostis.[5]
  • вои
  • воина
  • воиньство
  • воѥвати
  • воѥвода
  • повинѫти
  • Russian воин (voin)

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c Derksen, Rick (2008), Etymological Dictionary of the Slavic Inherited Lexicon, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 4, Leiden / Boston: Brill, p. 524
  3. ^ a b Vasmer, Max (1964–1973), Ètimologičeskij slovar' russkogo jazyka, transl. and suppl. by O. N. Trubačev, 4 vols., Moskva: Progress, p. 1, 334
  4. ^ a b Derksen, Rick (2008), Etymological Dictionary of the Slavic Inherited Lexicon, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 4, Leiden / Boston: Brill, p. 415
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Kurz, Josef; Hauptová, Zoe (eds.) (1958–1997), Slovník jazyka staroslověnského / Lexicon linguae palaeoslovenicae, 4 vols. + supplements, Praha: Academia; digital ed. gorazd.org
  6. ^ a b c d e f Slovník nejstarších staroslověnských památek (digital ed., Gorazd, Slovanský ústav AV ČR, gorazd.org); cf. Cejtlin, R. M.; Večerka, R.; Blagova, É. (eds.) (1994), Staroslavjanskij slovar' (po rukopisjam X–XI vekov), Moskva: Russkij jazyk
  7. ^ Miklosich, Franz (1862–1865), Lexicon palaeoslovenico-graeco-latinum emendatum auctum, Vindobonae: Braumüller
  8. ^ Gil'tebrandt, P. A. (1882–1885), Spravočnyj i ob''jasnitel'nyj slovar' k Novomu Zavetu, 6 vols., Sankt-Peterburg