- ὅμηρος
- ὅμηροςGrammatical information: m.Meaning: `pledge, hostage, bail, warrant' (IA.).Other forms: pl. also -α.Derivatives: ὁμηρεύω, also with ἐξ-, συν-, `to serve as a hostage, to guarantee, to take as a pledge, to take hostage' (Att. Redner, E. Rh. 434, Antiph.) with ὁμηρ-εία f. (Pl., Th., Plb.), -ευμα n. (Plu.) `pledge, hostage', ἐξ-ευσις f. `hostage-taking' (Plu.).Origin: GR [a formation built with Greek elements]X [probably]Etymology: Prob. prop. with Curtius a.o. "who is together (with others), the companion, who is forced to go with", compound of ὁμοῦ and ἀρ- in ἀραρειν etc. w. similar meaningdevelopment as in Lat. obsēs ( : obsideō) `hostage, bail' (but the root ἀρ- is difficult to understand). Slightly diff. Szemerényi Glotta 33, 363 ff.: the 2. member to ἐρ- in ἔρχομαι. The orig. meaning still in ὁμηρέω and ὁμηρέταις ὁμοψήφοις, ὁμογνώμοσιν H.; cf. also ὁμαρτέω and ἁμαρτή. -- Perhaps identical with this ὅμηρος = ὁ τυφλός (Lyc., H.), "because he goes with his leader" (Birt Phil. 87, 376ff.; cf. Kretschmer Glotta 22, 264)?; hardly convincing. Rather appellative use of the name of the poet (?). On attempts to connect the name Ο῝μηρος (Cret. Ο῝μαρος) wiht the appellative, s. except P.-W. 8, 2199 f. also Birt l.c. and Durante Rend. Acc. Lincei Ser. 8: 12, 94ff.; cf. Schwartz Herm. 75, 1ff., Bonfante, Par. Pass. 1968, 360; Posock, St. Mic. 4(1967)101; Deroy, Ant. Cl. 1972, 427.Page in Frisk: 2,386
Greek-English etymological dictionary (Ελληνικά-Αγγλικά ετυμολογική λεξικό). Robert S.P.. 2010.