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ἡ λέξις τῆς ἡμέρας (κγ’) – Ancient Greek Word of the Day (23)

January 13, 2022 by Jenny

τὸ ἔντομον, -ου (ζῷον) – an insect (> ἔντομος = cut in pieces, ἐν + τέμνειν)

τὸ ὄνομα „ἔντομον“ (ἀπὸ τοῦ „ἐν“ καὶ „τέμνειν“) εὑρίσκεται οἱμοίως καὶ ἐν τῇ ῥωμαϊκῇ γλώσσῃ („in-sectum“ < „in“ + „secare“) καὶ ἐν πολλαῖς τῶν νῦν γλωττῶν· ὁ δὲ Ἀριστοτέλης πρῶτος ἦν ὃς ταῦτα τὰ ζῷα οὕτως ὠνόμασε·

“καλῶ δὲ ἔντομα ὅσα ἔχει κατὰ τὸ σῶμα ἐντομάς”

The name “insect/entomon” (from “in” and “to cut”) can be fund likewise in Latin and in many modern languages. Aristotle was the first who called these animals like this:

“I call ‘insects’ all those (animals) which have incisions/sections along their body” (Aristotle, Historia Animalium 487a33)

Filed Under: Ancient Greek Word of the Week

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