LL-L "Etymology" (was "Expressions") 2002.02.20 (11) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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 L O W L A N D S - L * 20.FEB.2002 (11) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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From: "Aviad Stier" <aviad2001 at hotmail.com>
Subject:

Hi Everyone!
Jorge Potter wrote:

"Dear Lowlanders,

Apparently the two identical words in Hebrew pronounced "erev" have come
down from the same root, but one early became differentiated into a root
meaning to braid, weave or weft, multitude or mixture, while the other
became evening; as if the world had been covered with a web.

Jorge Potter"
<end quote>

That's an interesting and quite intriguing theory, but none of my
etymological dictionaries seems to be aware of it. "Erev" as in "evening",
like many Hebrew astronomical nouns, goes way back and is related to the
Akkadian "erebu" meaning to enter or to go down. "Ereb Shamshi" meant sunset
= the going-down of the sun. The same route might be also the origin of the
Greek word Europe ("where the sun sets" if you live in the Near East).
The other "erev", from a root meaning "to mix" is of another origin, and in
other Semitic languages starts with another consonant (GH rather than ?). In
Hebrew these two typically developped into ? . I don't know of any instances
where this root is used to mean 'weave', 'braid' or 'weft'.
Lehitra'ot,
Aviad Stier,
Brussels

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