Etymologically
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страхъ

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Forms

страхъ (straxŭ) m, o-stem, Glagolitic ⱄⱅⱃⰰⱈⱏ[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Slavic *straxъ (“fear, terror”), a word of all the Slavic languages.[2][1] The same word is Russian страх (strax), Bulgarian страх (strah), Macedonian страв (strav), Serbo-Croatian strȃh, Slovene strȃh, Czech strach, Polish strach, Upper Sorbian strach and Lower Sorbian tšach, meaning fear or dread, and in several languages also a scarecrow or phantom.[2][1][3]

Its origin is unclear, and the explanations differ; most derive its final x from earlier ks or gs, by disputed routes.[2] The view that prevails takes it as an o-grade of Proto-Indo-European *(s)ter- (“to be stiff, rigid”) extended by a velar, *strog-so-, closest to Old High German starc, German stark and Old English stearc (“stiff, severe”): so Persson, Sadnik & Aitzetmüller and Vasmer, and Pokorny with doubts.[2] Vasmer, starting from a first meaning “numbness, stiffening”, compares Lithuanian stregti (“to stiffen, freeze”), Latvian strēģele (“icicle”) and Middle High German strac (“taut”).[3] Wiktionary likewise derives it from Proto-Balto-Slavic *strākš- and *(s)treg-.[1] The comparison with Latin strāgēs (“devastation”), proposed by Pedersen, was contested by Persson and by Walde and Hofmann, and ESJS thinks it unlikely.[3][2]

Among the other explanations ESJS records Snoj's *strok-so-, from a verb meaning “to stiffen”, Machek's derivation from an intensive verb *straxati, related to schrecken (“to frighten”), and the attempts to connect it with a root meaning “to tremble” (Gorjaev, Jokl, Mladenov).[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

In the Gospels страхъ renders Ancient Greek φόβος (phóbos, “fear”), as in отъ страха възъпишѧ “they cried out for fear” (Mt 14, 26 Zogr Mar As Sav Ostr).[4][5] The Psalterium Sinaiticum has и страхъ съмрътьнꙑі нападе на мѩ “and the fear of death fell upon me” (Ps 54, 5).[5]

Semantic evolution

Besides fear, for φόβος, τρόμος and δειλία, the word means reverence or awe, the fear owed to those in authority (R 13, 7), and above all the fear of God, страхъ божии or господьн҄ь: страхоу г‹осподь›ню наоучѫ вꙑ “I will teach you the fear of the Lord” (Ps 33, 12 Sin).[4] It is also intimidation or threat, for πτόησις (1P 3, 6), and a terror, a dreadful thing, as отъ страха ноштьнаего “from the terror of the night” (Ps 90, 5 Sin).[4][5] бе страха renders ἀφόβως and ἀδεῶς, and въ страсѣ the Greek ἔμφοβος.[4][5]

Later Church Slavonic kept these senses: Giltebrandt lists the New Testament uses for φόβος, πτόησις, δειλία and εὐλάβεια.[6]

Timeline

  • End of the 9th – beginning of the 10th century – the Euchologium Sinaiticum uses страхъ for φόβος.[7]
  • 14th century – the Serbian Athonite translation of Gregory of Nyssa uses it for φόβος and δειλία.[7]
  • 1882–1885 – Giltebrandt lists its New Testament uses in Church Slavonic.[6]

Meanings

Noun

  1. fear, dread; for φόβος, τρόμος, δειλία.[4][5][1]
  2. reverence, awe;[4] страхъ божии the fear of God; for φόβος.[4]
  3. intimidation, threat; for πτόησις, φόβος.[4][5]
  4. A terror, a dreadful thing; for φόβος, δειλία.[4]
  5. Dreadfulness, awfulness; for Latin terror.[4]

Word family

  • страшьнъ
  • страшити
  • оустрашити
  • бестрашьнъ
  • Russian страх (strax)

Usage notes

Sedakova counts the Church Slavonic word among the false friends of Russian страх, since it can mean an intimidation or a danger rather than the feeling: да без̾ стра́ха бꙋ́детъ (1 Cor 16, 10) means “let him be in safety”, for ἀφόβως.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f Havlová, Eva; Erhart, Adolf; Janyšková, Ilona (eds.) (1989–2022), Etymologický slovník jazyka staroslověnského, 21 fascicles, Praha: Academia / Brno: Tribun EU
  3. ^ a b c Vasmer, Max (1964–1973), Ètimologičeskij slovar' russkogo jazyka, transl. and suppl. by O. N. Trubačev, 4 vols., Moskva: Progress, p. 3, 772
  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 Gil'tebrandt, P. A. (1882–1885), Spravočnyj i ob''jasnitel'nyj slovar' k Novomu Zavetu, 6 vols., Sankt-Peterburg
  7. ^ a b SlaVaComp Metaglossar Griechisch–Kirchenslavisch, Universität Freiburg, slavistik-portal.de
  8. ^ Sedakova, O. A. (2005), Slovar' trudnyx slov iz bogosluženija: cerkovnoslavjano-russkie paronimy, Moskva: Grēko-latinskij kabinet Ju. A. Šičalina