рѫка

Forms

рѫка (rǫka) f, a-stem;^[1] Glagolitic ⱃⱘⰽⰰ^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Slavic *rǫka (“hand, arm”), from Proto-Balto-Slavic *ránkāˀ.^[1][2] The same word is Russian рука (ruka), Ukrainian рука (ruka), Bulgarian ръка (răka), Serbo-Croatian rúka, Slovene róka, Czech ruka, Slovak ruka, Polish ręka, Upper Sorbian ruka and Polabian rǫkă.^[2][1][3] Its Baltic cognates are Lithuanian rankà (“hand”), Latvian rùoka and Old Prussian rānkan.^[2][3]

Derksen and Vasmer derive the Balto-Slavic word for "hand" from a verb meaning "to gather", seen in riñkti (“to gather, collect”) (Derksen's root Proto-Indo-European *u̯renk-).^[2][3] Wiktionary sets up *rónk-eh₂.^[1] Derksen compares Old Norse rá (“corner”), while Vasmer finds Mikkola's link with Old Norse words for "corner" and "crooked" less convincing.^[2][3] Since deverbal ā-stems usually have fixed stress, Derksen reports Kortlandt's view that the mobile accent of the word is analogical after Proto-Slavic *noga (“foot, leg”).^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

In the Codex Zographensis and the Codex Marianus рѫка translates Ancient Greek χείρ (kheír, “hand”), as in аште деснаѣ твоѣ рѫка съблажнаетъ тѧ • оусѣце ѭ "if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off" (Mt 5, 30).^[4] The Psalterium Sinaiticum has вьздвігъ рѫцѣ моꙇ "I have lifted up my hands" (Ps 118, 48).^[4]

Semantic evolution

The canonical texts use the word for the hand, also for Ancient Greek πῆχυς (pêkhus) and Ancient Greek δράξ (dráx), and in the dual or plural for the arms or an embrace, for Ancient Greek ἀγκάλαι (ankálai): Simeon took the child на рѫкоу своею "into his arms" (L 2, 28).^[4][5] Figuratively it is power or dominion, as in рѫка г‹осподь›нѣ бѣ съ нимь "the hand of the Lord was with him" (L 1, 66).^[5] The instrumental рѫкоѭ "by the hand of, through" renders the Hebrew-based Greek phrases ἐν χειρί and διὰ χειρός.^[4] Once, in a translation from Latin, it means "branch" (Joel 1, 7).^[4] Phrases include без-д-рѫкоу for Ancient Greek ἀχειρί (akheirí, “without hands”) and божиꙗма рѫкама for χειροθέος.^[4][5] Miklosich records the later sense "power, authority" (подъ рѹкою "under the authority of") in Serbian documents and chronicles.^[6]

Timeline

• End of the 9th – beginning of the 10th century – рѫка renders χείρ in the Euchologium.^[7]
• 14th century – the Serbian Athonite translation of Gregory of Nyssa uses it for χείρ.^[7]
• 1882–1885 – Giltebrandt lists its New Testament uses in Church Slavonic.^[8]

Meanings

Noun

1. hand; for χείρ, πῆχυς, δράξ.^[4][5][1]
2. In the dual or plural: the arms, an embrace; for ἀγκάλαι.^[4][5]
3. (figurative) power, dominion, authority.^[5][6]
4. рѫкоѭ: by the hand of, through; for ἐν χειρί, διὰ χειρός.^[4]
5. (rare) A branch.^[4]

Word family

• рѫчьнъ

Related words

• Russian рука (ruka)
• Lithuanian rankà

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f Derksen, Rick (2008), Etymological Dictionary of the Slavic Inherited Lexicon, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 4, Leiden / Boston: Brill, p. 439
3. ^ a b c d Vasmer, Max (1964–1973), Ètimologičeskij slovar' russkogo jazyka, transl. and suppl. by O. N. Trubačev, 4 vols., Moskva: Progress, p. 3, 515
4. ^ 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
5. ^ 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
6. ^ a b Miklosich, Franz (1862–1865), Lexicon palaeoslovenico-graeco-latinum emendatum auctum, Vindobonae: Braumüller
7. ^ a b SlaVaComp Metaglossar Griechisch–Kirchenslavisch, Universität Freiburg, slavistik-portal.de
8. ^ Gil'tebrandt, P. A. (1882–1885), Spravočnyj i ob''jasnitel'nyj slovar' k Novomu Zavetu, 6 vols., Sankt-Peterburg