старьць

Forms

старьць (starĭcĭ) m, o-stem, Glagolitic ⱄⱅⰰⱃⱐⱌⱐ^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Slavic *starьcь (“old man”), formed from *starъ (“old”) (OCS старъ) with the suffix *-ьcь.^[1][2] The same word is Russian старец (stárec), Ukrainian старець (stárecʹ), Bulgarian старец (starec), Macedonian старец (starec) and Serbo-Croatian stȁrac.^[1]

The adjective *starъ is found in all the Slavic languages.^[2][3] Since Miklosich it has been explained as a derivative with an r-suffix of the root Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- (“to stand”), seen in стати;^[2][3][4] Derksen reconstructs *steh₂-ro-.^[2][3][4] It is compared with Lithuanian stóras (“thick, fat”) and Old Norse stórr (“big, strong”), and, with another grade of the root, a Sanskrit adjective meaning "firm, strong".^[2][3][5] The first sense would have been "well set up, standing firm", whence "strong, big" and, in contrast with "young and weak", "old".^[2] ESJS adds that the older word for "old" was ветъхъ, used of decrepit things, while старъ first named an old person still in full strength, fit to lead the community.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

In the Gospels the plural старьци renders Ancient Greek πρεσβύτερος (presbúteros, “elder”), both for the ancestors, as in по чьто оученици твои прѣстѫпаѭтъ прѣдаание старьць “why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders” (Mt 15, 2, Zogr Mar), and for the elders of the Jews beside the chief priests and scribes (Mc 14, 53, Zogr Mar Ostr).^[6][7] In the Psalterium Sinaiticum it is “old men” in general (Ps 118, 100).^[6]

Semantic evolution

The SJS gives two senses: "old man, elder", for Ancient Greek γέρων (gérōn), πρεσβύτης and γηραλέος, with the plural "the elders, the forefathers"; and "leader, elder, presbyter" of a community, for πρεσβύτερος and γερουσία.^[6] In the Codex Suprasliensis it is above all γέρων (29 times in the Greek–OCS index), and there it is also an honorific title of a monk, as in свꙙтꙑи старьцъ “the holy elder” (Supr 173, 2).^[6][7] The phrase зълꙑи старьць “evil old man” translates φαγόγηρος.^[7] The possessive adjective is старьчь "of the old man".^[8][9] Miklosich cites a Romanian word for "abbot" taken from it.^[9]

Timeline

• End of the 9th – beginning of the 10th century – liturgical texts from the western regions of the First Bulgarian Empire use старьць for γέρων, πρέσβυς and γερουσία.^[10]
• Up to the beginning of the 15th century – a Serbian translation from the Rila Monastery has it for γέρων and πρέσβυς.^[10]

Meanings

Noun

1. An old man, an elder; for γέρων, πρεσβύτης, γηραλέος.^[6][7][1][8]
2. (plural) The elders, the forefathers; for οἱ πρεσβύτεροι.^[6][7]
3. A leader of a community, an elder, a presbyter; for πρεσβύτερος, γερουσία.^[6][7][8]
4. (monasticism) An honorific title of a monk; for γέρων.^[7]

Word family

• старьчь

Related words

• старъ
• старица
• старость
• старѣишина
• Russian старец (stárec)

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g Havlová, Eva; Erhart, Adolf; Janyšková, Ilona (eds.) (1989–2022), Etymologický slovník jazyka staroslověnského, 21 fascicles, Praha: Academia / Brno: Tribun EU
3. ^ a b c d Derksen, Rick (2008), Etymological Dictionary of the Slavic Inherited Lexicon, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 4, Leiden / Boston: Brill, p. 465
4. ^ a b Sadnik, Linda; Aitzetmüller, Rudolf (1955), Handwörterbuch zu den altkirchenslavischen Texten, Heidelberg: Winter / 's-Gravenhage: Mouton, p. 308
5. ^ Vasmer, Max (1964–1973), Ètimologičeskij slovar' russkogo jazyka, transl. and suppl. by O. N. Trubačev, 4 vols., Moskva: Progress, p. 3, 747
6. ^ a b c d e f g 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 f g 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
8. ^ a b c Sadnik, Linda; Aitzetmüller, Rudolf (1955), Handwörterbuch zu den altkirchenslavischen Texten, Heidelberg: Winter / 's-Gravenhage: Mouton
9. ^ a b Miklosich, Franz (1862–1865), Lexicon palaeoslovenico-graeco-latinum emendatum auctum, Vindobonae: Braumüller
10. ^ a b SlaVaComp Metaglossar Griechisch–Kirchenslavisch, Universität Freiburg, slavistik-portal.de