GR 1142     ARGOS

H 0021          א ח ר  

Concept of root : delay

Hebrew word

pronunciation

English meanings

א ח ר

aghar

delay, stop (verb)

Related English words

after

Comparison between European words and Hebrew

Languages

Words

Pronunciation

English meanings

Similarity in roots

Hebrew

א ח ר

aghar

delay, stop

a gh . r

Greek

αργος

argos

suspended, unfinished, not done

a r g

 

 

I

Proto-Semitic *AGHAR --- ARGOS Greek

 

 

There is a strong similarity in meanings and there seems to be a metathesis between the Greek and Hebrew words. That is to say that the "R"-sound and the "G or GH" sound changed places. It is known that the consonant " R " in various languages often lives metatheses.

 

Note:
  • Hebrew. We find the same root in entry E 0013 (Hebrew 0022).

 

Note:
  • Proto-Semitic. In Aramaic "א ח ר, eghar = to be , remain behind" and Syriac "א ו ח ר, oghar" with the same meaning we find sister words of Hebrew. Cognates are Arabic "'abharà = he put off" and "ta'aghgharà = he was delayed" and Akkadian "ughghuru= he remained behind". Proto-Semitic in all probability used this same root : א ח ר, Aleph Ghet Resh.

 

Note:
  • Greek. The same root we find in entry E 0013 ( Hebrew 0022 ), but then in Modern Greek. A root "A R G" as in Greek "argos" is used to express various different concepts, that probably do not all have common origin:

     

    1. "argos = splendid, brilliant, white", from which "argüros = silver".

     

    2. "argos = fast".

     

    3. "argos = not working, lazy", a contraction of "aergos", based on "ergon = action, work" related to German "Werk" and of course English "work".

     

    4. "argos = useless, superfluous, not productive (action, money)".

     

    5. "argos = unfinished, unachieved ".

     

    And in modern language:

     

    6. "argos = idle"

     

    7. "argos, arga = slow"

     

    8. "arga = late".

     

     

    There are some shifts in meanings from Classic to New Greek.

 

Note:
  • Indo-European. With only a group of Greek words there is not sufficient information on which to base a hypothesis for Indo-European.

 

 

 

 

 
Created: Tuesday 6 November 2007 at 22.30.54 Updated: 24/09/2012 at 10.15.14