The ghost-word Old Church Slavonic sęštь/sęštъ ‘clever, wise’ – or: the long shadow of Franz Xaver (Ritter von) Miklosich (Miklošič)

Abstract: In newer Indo-European linguistics literature, several times the adjective Old Church Slavonic (OCS) sęštь ‘klug, weise’ respectively sęštъ ‘sensible, wise’ is mentioned. It is usually reconstructed as Proto-Indo-European *sent-i̯o- and said to be related to Latin sentīre ‘to think, to...

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Main Author: Harald Bichlmeier
Format: Article
Language:ces
Published: Masaryk University 2024-12-01
Series:Linguistica Brunensia
Online Access:https://journals.phil.muni.cz/linguistica-brunensia/article/view/37850
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author Harald Bichlmeier
author_facet Harald Bichlmeier
author_sort Harald Bichlmeier
collection DOAJ
description Abstract: In newer Indo-European linguistics literature, several times the adjective Old Church Slavonic (OCS) sęštь ‘klug, weise’ respectively sęštъ ‘sensible, wise’ is mentioned. It is usually reconstructed as Proto-Indo-European *sent-i̯o- and said to be related to Latin sentīre ‘to think, to feel, to mean’ etc. On the other hand, there are several publications, where one might expect to find that word, but does not find it. In (etymological) dictionaries of OCS the word is also missing. The aim of the chapter is to elucidate where and when the ghost-word OCS sęštь/sęštъ came into being by checking the relevant literature. The method thus consists in the traditional way of checking relevant literature for the occurrence of the incriminated word. It becomes clear that the ghost-word arose by a misreading. It seemingly appears as a hapax legomenon in the Codex Suprasliensis (early 11th cent.). Instead of the really attested OCS sǫštęję ‘being’ (part.pres.gen.sg.f.) Miklosich gives sęštęję ‘prudens’ in his first (1845) edition of the respective homily and in the first full edition of the Codex Suprasliensis (1851), because the original Greek text has the adjective φρονίμου ‘wise’ (gen.sg.m.). After 1851, Miklosich repeats the ghost-word in about half a dozen grammars and dictionaries, from where it was taken over into Indo-European linguistics literature and survived into the 21st century.
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2336-4440
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spelling doaj-art-d6c853bddf954898a9c6fe57b6caad8a2024-12-13T07:23:01ZcesMasaryk UniversityLinguistica Brunensia1803-74102336-44402024-12-01The ghost-word Old Church Slavonic sęštь/sęštъ ‘clever, wise’ – or: the long shadow of Franz Xaver (Ritter von) Miklosich (Miklošič)Harald Bichlmeier Abstract: In newer Indo-European linguistics literature, several times the adjective Old Church Slavonic (OCS) sęštь ‘klug, weise’ respectively sęštъ ‘sensible, wise’ is mentioned. It is usually reconstructed as Proto-Indo-European *sent-i̯o- and said to be related to Latin sentīre ‘to think, to feel, to mean’ etc. On the other hand, there are several publications, where one might expect to find that word, but does not find it. In (etymological) dictionaries of OCS the word is also missing. The aim of the chapter is to elucidate where and when the ghost-word OCS sęštь/sęštъ came into being by checking the relevant literature. The method thus consists in the traditional way of checking relevant literature for the occurrence of the incriminated word. It becomes clear that the ghost-word arose by a misreading. It seemingly appears as a hapax legomenon in the Codex Suprasliensis (early 11th cent.). Instead of the really attested OCS sǫštęję ‘being’ (part.pres.gen.sg.f.) Miklosich gives sęštęję ‘prudens’ in his first (1845) edition of the respective homily and in the first full edition of the Codex Suprasliensis (1851), because the original Greek text has the adjective φρονίμου ‘wise’ (gen.sg.m.). After 1851, Miklosich repeats the ghost-word in about half a dozen grammars and dictionaries, from where it was taken over into Indo-European linguistics literature and survived into the 21st century. https://journals.phil.muni.cz/linguistica-brunensia/article/view/37850
spellingShingle Harald Bichlmeier
The ghost-word Old Church Slavonic sęštь/sęštъ ‘clever, wise’ – or: the long shadow of Franz Xaver (Ritter von) Miklosich (Miklošič)
Linguistica Brunensia
title The ghost-word Old Church Slavonic sęštь/sęštъ ‘clever, wise’ – or: the long shadow of Franz Xaver (Ritter von) Miklosich (Miklošič)
title_full The ghost-word Old Church Slavonic sęštь/sęštъ ‘clever, wise’ – or: the long shadow of Franz Xaver (Ritter von) Miklosich (Miklošič)
title_fullStr The ghost-word Old Church Slavonic sęštь/sęštъ ‘clever, wise’ – or: the long shadow of Franz Xaver (Ritter von) Miklosich (Miklošič)
title_full_unstemmed The ghost-word Old Church Slavonic sęštь/sęštъ ‘clever, wise’ – or: the long shadow of Franz Xaver (Ritter von) Miklosich (Miklošič)
title_short The ghost-word Old Church Slavonic sęštь/sęštъ ‘clever, wise’ – or: the long shadow of Franz Xaver (Ritter von) Miklosich (Miklošič)
title_sort ghost word old church slavonic sestь sestъ clever wise or the long shadow of franz xaver ritter von miklosich miklosic
url https://journals.phil.muni.cz/linguistica-brunensia/article/view/37850
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