σμάραγδος Ancient Greek · revision 2279

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=borrowing|attested=5th century BC, Herodotus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (5th-century BC Attic): /zmá.raɡ.dos/^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (4th-century AD Koine): /ˈzma.raɣ.ðos/^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (10th-century Byzantine): /ˈzma.raɣ.ðos/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''σμᾰ́ρᾰγδος''' (smáragdos) ''f'' or m (genitive σμᾰρᾰ́γδου); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+ Also [[μάραγδος|tr=máragdos]] (Menander, Hellenistic inscriptions) and [[ζμάραγδος|tr=zmáragdos]] (inscriptions, papyri).^(Beekes 2010)^(LSJ 1940)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is an Oriental loanword.^(Beekes 2010)^(Rosół 2013) It matches [[sa|मरकत|tr=marakata]], [[akk|barraqtu]] and [[he|בָּרֶקֶת|tr=bāreqet]], all “emerald”, whose ultimate source is probably Semitic, from a root brq “to shine, flash”.^(Beekes 2010)^(Frisk 1960)^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline) Rosół, however, classes it among the Oriental loanwords of unknown origin, the Semitic source being doubtful, and reports the older view that the Greek word came from Indic.^(Rosół 2013)

+

+ The initial σμ- is like that of [[Σμέρδις|tr=Smérdis]] beside [[peo|Bardiya]], and [[σμαραγέω|tr=smaragéō]] may have influenced it; the later μάραγδος may have been borrowed from Indic.^(Beekes 2010)^(Frisk 1960)^(Rosół 2013) Rosół tentatively connects [[gmy|pa-ra-ku-we]] with it.^(Rosół 2013)

+

+ From Greek came [[la|smaragdus]] and [[fa|زمرد|tr=zumurrud]], whence Ottoman zümrüd and Russian izumrud.^(Beekes 2010)^(Frisk 1960)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It first appears in Herodotus, who speaks of an emerald stone.^(CGL 2021)^(LSJ 1940)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ LSJ notes that it named several green stones, including the emerald (Herodotus, Plato's ''Phaedo'', Theophrastus), and Etymonline adds malachite.^(LSJ 1940)^(Etymonline) Delian inventories of the 3rd century BC list seals of σμάραγδος and of μάραγδος.^(LSJ 1940) The Suda recalls the emerald of Polycrates of Samos, thrown into the sea and found again in a fish.^(Suda)

+

+ In the Septuagint it is among the stones of the priestly vestments in Exodus 28.^(Lust 2003)^(LSJ 1940) Σμάραγδος was also the name of the emerald mines in Egypt, in inscriptions of the 1st century AD, and of the mountain where they lay (Ptolemy).^(LSJ 1940)^(Onomata) Medieval Greek used it for various green precious stones.^(Kriaras) Through Latin and Old French it is the source of [[en|emerald]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 5th century BC – Herodotus mentions an emerald stone.^(CGL 2021)^(LSJ 1940)^(DGE)

+ * 5th–4th century BC – Plato mentions emeralds in the ''Phaedo''.^(LSJ 1940)^(DGE)

+ * 4th–3rd century BC – Theophrastus describes the stone.^(LSJ 1940)^(DGE)

+ * 3rd century BC – Delian inventories list emerald seals.^(LSJ 1940)

+ * 1st century AD – inscriptions name the emerald mines of Egypt.^(LSJ 1940)

+ * c. 1300 – English ''emeraude'', through Old French.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The [[m|en|emerald]], and other green gems.^(LSJ 1940)^(CGL 2021)

+ # ''(proper name)'' The emerald mines of Egypt; a mountain there.^(LSJ 1940)^(Onomata)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[σμαράγδινος|tr=smarágdinos]]

+ * [[σμαραγδίτης|tr=smaragdítēs]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[la|smaragdus]]

+ * [[en|emerald]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}