молити

Forms

молити (moliti) impf^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Slavic *modliti (“to ask, to pray”), from Proto-Balto-Slavic *maldī́ˀtei.^[2][1][3] The same word is Russian молить (molitʹ), Bulgarian моля (molja), Serbo-Croatian mòliti and Slovene móliti, without the d, while Czech modliti, Slovak modliť and Polish modlić keep it.^[2][1][4]

The cluster d + l of the Proto-Slavic form is usually explained as a metathesis of an older l + d (Wiktionary, Sadnik and Aitzetmüller), or, after Berneker, as a dissimilation in a noun *moldla.^[1][3] Derksen notes that the change must be older than the general metathesis of liquids, that an l-suffix and taboo have both been proposed, and that the matter is unclear.^[2]

The Baltic cognates are Lithuanian mel̃sti (“to ask, implore, pray”), maldà (“prayer, request”) and maldýti (“to implore”).^[2][4][3] Further off are Hittite māld- (“to recite, make a vow”), Old Armenian մաղթեմ (małtʻem, “I implore”) and Old Saxon meldōn (“to report, tell”), with German melden, all from Proto-Indo-European *meldʰ- (“to ask, pray”), with Derksen's o-grade *moldʰ-.^[1][2][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

In the Gospels молити renders Ancient Greek ἐρωτάω (erōtáō, “to ask”) and Ancient Greek παρακαλέω (parakaléō, “to beseech”), as in азъ о сихъ молѭ • не о вьсемь мирѣ молѭ "I ask for these, I do not ask for the whole world" (J 17, 9), in the Codex Zographensis, the Codex Marianus, the Codex Assemanianus, the Savvina kniga and the Ostromir Gospel.^[5]

Semantic evolution

The first sense in the SJS is "to ask, beg" someone for something, for παρακαλεῖν, ἐρωτᾶν, δεῖσθαι and ἱκετεύειν; the narrower "to pray" renders Ancient Greek προσεύχομαι (proseúkhomai) and εὔχεσθαι, and Vasmer gives it for молити сѧ in Suprasliensis.^[5][4] The Euchologium Sinaiticum also uses it for πρεσβεύειν "to intercede" and ἐντυγχάνειν.^[6] From it come молитва "prayer" and мольба "entreaty".^[1][3]

Giltebrandt lists the Church Slavonic New Testament uses for παρακαλεῖν, ἐρωτᾶν, δεῖσθαι, εὔχεσθαι, παραινεῖν and αἰτεῖσθαι, as in Бѣ́си же молѧ́хꙋ є҆го̀ "and the demons begged him" (Mt 8, 31).^[7] Dyachenko glosses it in 2 Cor 5, 20, for πρεσβεύειν, as "to act as an envoy or intercessor".^[8]

Timeline

• End of the 9th – beginning of the 10th century – the Euchologium Sinaiticum uses молити for ἱκετεύειν, παρακαλεῖν, πρεσβεύειν, δεῖσθαι, ἐντυγχάνειν and ἐπεύχεσθαι.^[6]
• 1882–1885 – Giltebrandt lists every New Testament use of the verb in Church Slavonic.^[7]

Meanings

Verb

1. To ask, to beg, to entreat someone for something; for παρακαλεῖν, ἐρωτᾶν, δεῖσθαι, ἱκετεύειν.^[5][1]
2. To pray; for προσεύχεσθαι, εὔχεσθαι.^[5][1]

Word family

• молитва
• мольба
• молѥниѥ
• молитвьнъ
• молитвовати
• помолити
• оумолити

Related words

• Russian молить (molitʹ)
• Lithuanian mel̃sti

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e Derksen, Rick (2008), Etymological Dictionary of the Slavic Inherited Lexicon, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 4, Leiden / Boston: Brill, p. 320
3. ^ a b c d Sadnik, Linda; Aitzetmüller, Rudolf (1955), Handwörterbuch zu den altkirchenslavischen Texten, Heidelberg: Winter / 's-Gravenhage: Mouton, p. 270
4. ^ a b c d Vasmer, Max (1964–1973), Ètimologičeskij slovar' russkogo jazyka, transl. and suppl. by O. N. Trubačev, 4 vols., Moskva: Progress, p. 2, 642
5. ^ a b c d 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 SlaVaComp Metaglossar Griechisch–Kirchenslavisch, Universität Freiburg, slavistik-portal.de
7. ^ a b Gil'tebrandt, P. A. (1882–1885), Spravočnyj i ob''jasnitel'nyj slovar' k Novomu Zavetu, 6 vols., Sankt-Peterburg
8. ^ D'jačenko, Grigorij (1899), Polnyj cerkovno-slavjanskij slovar', Moskva