βρέμω

Ancient Greek

Etymology

Resembles Proto-Indo-European *bʰrem- (to make noise), whence Latin fremō, Middle High German bremen, and obsolete English breme (famous; tempestuous). However, the change from PIE *bʰ to Greek /b/ (instead of the expected */pʰ/) would be unexplained. Thus, Beekes takes the word as an independent onomatopoeic formation.[1]

Not related to βρόμος (brómos, oats), which has been traditionally compared. The potential connection to βρῶμος (brômos, stink, stench), if any, is uncertain.

Pronunciation

 

Verb

βρέμω • (brémō)

  1. to roar (of waves)
  2. to clash (of arms)
  3. to shout, to rage (of men)

Inflection

Derived terms

References

  1. ^ Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010) “βρέμω”, in Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 10), with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, page 237

Further reading