- μέριμνα
- μέριμναGrammatical information: f.Meaning: `care, anxiety' (h. Merc., Hes., Sapph., Emp., Pi., trag., Ar.; orig. Ionic?, Solmsen [s.below], v. Wilamowitz BerlAkSb. 1909, 810A. 1, Fraenkel Nom. ag. 2, 36);Compounds: Compp., e.g. ἀ-μέριμνος `without care' (S., hell.) with ἀμεριμν-ία `carelessness' (Plu.) etc.Derivatives: μεριμνάω, -ῆσαι `care for, care, be mindful' (S., Ar., X., D.) with μεριμν-ήματα, Dor. -άματα pl. `cares' (Pi., S.), -ητής m. `caring for sth.' (E.), -ητικός (Artem., sch.).Origin: PG [a word of Pre-Greek origin](X)Etymology: The generally proposed and on itself obvious idea that μέριμνα is a backformation from μεριμνάω (cf. ἐρευνάω: ἔρευνα etc., see Solmsen Wortforsch. 39 f., 258), is confimed neither by the dates nor the spread of the attestations. Formally closest is μέδιμνος (s. v.); as basis seems to have served a noun *μερ-ί-μων or *μέρ-ι-μα; on the unclear phonology see Schwyzer 352 a. 283. Wrong analysis by Winter Lang. 26, 533. The primary verb to be supposed exists in Skt. smárati, Av. maraiti, paiti-šmaraiti, hi-šmar- `remember, remind'. -- Cognate formations perh. in μέρμερος, μέρμηρα, -ίζω; s. vv., with also further connections. Fur. 246 assumes Pre-Greek origin because of the suffix (-ιμν-).Page in Frisk: 2,209
Greek-English etymological dictionary (Ελληνικά-Αγγλικά ετυμολογική λεξικό). Robert S.P.. 2010.