Hands across the sea (was: indoeuropean)

Steve Gustafson stevegus at aye.net
Mon Jun 21 03:58:59 UTC 1999


Priscilla de Paula writes:

> Dear Sir : I belong to the indoeuropean list and I am a begining student
> of this matter. I would like to know about the origin of the greek
> classic word : "cheir" , that means hand and that has done origin to the
> latin word "chyrurgia". There is a sanskrit radical for the word hand ?
> Thanks for your attention. Adelgicius paulae.

Greek -cheir- resembles the usual Sanskrit and Indic word for "hand," which
is -hastah.-
-Cheir- ultimately traces back to *ghes-r-, (cf. Hitt. -kessar-) with s > 0
as usual in this situation in Greek; while -hastah.- represents *ghes-tos.
It would seem to be the same root with different suffixes.

Of course, "chyrurgia" is a slightly eccentric Late Latin spelling, and that
'y' doesn't belong.  Someone must have realised it was Greek, and dropped it
in there on a whim.  The idea, of course, is that in the ancient world a
clear distinction existed between those medical men who -worked- with
their -hands-, knives, and appliances; as opposed to those who worked with
potions and pills.

--
L'an mil neuf sens nonante neuf sept mois
Du ciel viendra grand Roy deffraieur
Resusciter le grand Roy d'Angolmois
Avant apres Mars regner par bonheur.
                                --- M. de Notre-Dame



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