слава

Forms

слава (slava) f, a-stem, Glagolitic ⱄⰾⰰⰲⰰ^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Slavic *slava (“glory, fame”).^[2][1] The same word is Russian сла́ва (sláva), Bulgarian сла́ва (sláva), Serbo-Croatian slȁva, Slovene sláva, Czech sláva, Slovak sláva and Polish sława.^[2][3]

The Proto-Slavic noun continues Proto-Balto-Slavic *ślōuʔ- and the root Proto-Indo-European *ḱlew- (“to hear”), with the Baltic cognates Lithuanian šlovė (“honour, fame”) and Latvian slava (“rumour, fame”).^[2][1] Derksen and Vasmer compare Ancient Greek κλέος (kléos, “fame”) and Old Irish clú (“fame”), and Sadnik and Aitzetmüller add Latin clueō (“to be called”).^[2][3][4] Derksen takes the word as an old root noun with lengthened grade, its laryngeal being a Balto-Slavic innovation.^[2] Vasmer rejects Leskien's view that the Lithuanian word is a loan from Slavic.^[3]

Within Slavic, the word is linked by ablaut with слово and слоути.^[3] Wiktionary considers that it may be a deverbal noun from *slyti.^[1] ESJS treats the verb славити as a causative of the verb for being called, while Vasmer derives the verb from the noun.^[5][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The Gospel manuscripts use the word for Ancient Greek δόξα (dóxa, “glory”), слава въ вꙑшьниихъ богоу “glory to God in the highest” (L 2, 14 Zogr Mar Sav Ostr).^[6] SNSP counts more than five hundred occurrences.^[7]

Semantic evolution

The SJS divides the senses into honour and praise, for δόξα and also Ancient Greek αἴνεσις (aínesis), Ancient Greek κῦδος (kûdos) and Ancient Greek χάρις (kháris), then greatness and splendour, the radiance of heavenly light, and in the Codex Suprasliensis even opinion, for δόξα in that sense.^[6] Thanks to God are expressed with it (слава тебѣ боже).^[6] In the liturgy it is the short form of the doxology “Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit”, read at the end of a psalm, and the name of a troparion sung after it.^[6][7]

Meanings

Noun

1. glory, honour, praise; for δόξα, αἴνεσις.^[6][7][1]
2. fame, renown.^[1][3]
3. Thanks, praise given to God.^[6][7]
4. majesty, greatness, splendour; for δόξα.^[6]
5. Radiance, brightness.^[6]
6. Opinion, reputation; for δόξα.^[6]
7. (liturgy) The doxology, or a troparion sung after it.^[6][7]

Word family

• славити
• прославити
• славьнъ
• неслава

Related words

• слоути
• слово

References

1. ^ a b c d e f 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. 453
3. ^ a b c d e f Vasmer, Max (1964–1973), Ètimologičeskij slovar' russkogo jazyka, transl. and suppl. by O. N. Trubačev, 4 vols., Moskva: Progress, p. 3, 664
4. ^ Sadnik, Linda; Aitzetmüller, Rudolf (1955), Handwörterbuch zu den altkirchenslavischen Texten, Heidelberg: Winter / 's-Gravenhage: Mouton, p. 304
5. ^ Havlová, Eva; Erhart, Adolf; Janyšková, Ilona (eds.) (1989–2022), Etymologický slovník jazyka staroslověnského, 21 fascicles, Praha: Academia / Brno: Tribun EU
6. ^ 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
7. ^ a b c d e 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