φερνή Ancient Greek · revision 3216

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=6th–5th century BC, Aeschylus|origins=ine-pro *bʰer-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (5th-century BC Attic): /pʰer.nɛ̌ː/^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (4th-century AD Koine): /ɸerˈni/^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (10th-century Byzantine): /ferˈni/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''φερνή''' (phernḗ) ''f'' (genitive φερνῆς); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+ Aeolic ''φέρενα'', Doric ''φερνά''.^(Frisk 1960)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is derived from [[φέρω|tr=phérō|t=to bring, carry]] with the nasal suffix [[m|grc|-νή|tr=-nḗ]]: “what is brought”.^(Frisk 1960)^(Wiktionary) The same suffix is found in [[xcl|բեռն|tr=beṙn|t=burden]], [[lt|bernas|t=lad, farmhand]], and with ''o''-grade in [[got|𐌱𐌰𐍂𐌽|tr=barn|t=child]], literally “what is borne”.^(Frisk 1960)^(Wiktionary) Aeolic ⟨φέρενα⟩ has the two-syllable stem also seen in [[φέρετρον|tr=phéretron]].^(Frisk 1960)

+

+ Φέρω is from [[ine-pro|*bʰer-|t=to carry]].^(Beekes 2010)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Aeschylus and Herodotus use it for a dowry, the property a woman brings to her marriage.^(CGL 2021)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Euripides it can also be the bride's trousseau, gifts of clothes and the like.^(CGL 2021) A Doric inscription from Epidaurus of the 5th or 4th century BC uses ''φερνά'' for the god's share of a sacrifice.^(Frisk 1960) The Septuagint uses it both for a dowry and for the bride price paid by the groom, as in Genesis.^(Lust 2003) Hesychius glosses it with its synonym [[προίξ|tr=proíx]], and Ammonius distinguishes it from ''φέρνιον'', a fisherman's basket.^(Hesychius)^(Ammonius) Later Greek formed the diminutive ''φερνάριον'' and the verb ''φερνίζω'' “to give a dowry”.^(Frisk 1960)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 6th–5th century BC – Aeschylus uses it for a dowry.^(CGL 2021)

+ * 5th century BC – Herodotus and Euripides use it, Euripides also for a trousseau.^(CGL 2021)

+ * 5th–4th century BC – An inscription from Epidaurus uses ''φερνά'' for the god's share of a sacrifice.^(Frisk 1960)

+ * 3rd–1st century BC – The Septuagint uses it for a dowry and a bride price.^(Lust 2003)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|dowry]].^(CGL 2021)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Gifts for a bride, a [[m|en|trousseau]].^(CGL 2021)

+ # ''(Septuagint)'' A bride price.^(Lust 2003)

+ # ''(Doric)'' The god's share of a sacrifice.^(Frisk 1960)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[φέρω|tr=phérō]]

+ * [[προίξ|tr=proíx]]

+ * [[παράφερνα|tr=parápherna]]

+ * [[en|paraphernalia]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}