μάραγνα

Ancient Greek

Alternative forms

  • σμάραγνα (smáragna)

Etymology

The word corresponds to Classical Syriac ܡܪܓܢܐ (māragnā, kind of scourge).

Hübschmann already assumed that both were loans from Old Persian *māra-gna (killer of snakes), and Walther Hinz derives it from an Old Iranian term *māragna- (literally snake repellant);[1] compare Persian مار (mâr, snake).

Pronunciation

 

Noun

μᾰ́ρᾰγνᾰ • (mắrăgnăf (genitive μᾰρᾰ́γνης); first declension

  1. lash, scourge
    Synonym: μάστιξ (mástix)

Inflection

Further reading

  1. ^ Hinz, Walther (1975) Altiranisches Sprachgut der Nebenüberlieferungen (Göttinger Orientforschungen, Reihe III, Iranica; 3)‎[1] (in German), Wiesbaden: Otto Harrassowitz, page 160