λυκαμας

Grammatical information: m. (τ 306 = ξ 161, A. R. 1. 198, Bion Fr. 15, 15, gravepigrams of empire from Arcadia and Ionia)

Meaning: time-indication of uncertain meaning, usu. explained as `year' and by the laters, who seem all based on τ 306, used in this sense; acc. to Leumann Hom. Wörter 212 n. 4 rather `new moon' (against this Ruijgh L'élém. ach. 147). The supposed Arcadian origin (AB) prob. refers to the late Arcadian inscriptions, s. Leumann 273.

Other forms: (acc. also - βαν). Also λυκαμας (inscr. Amorgos, Kretchmer Glotta 2, 319).

Derivatives: λυκαβαντίδες ὧραι (AP).

Origin: PG [a word of Pre-Greek origin]

Etymology: Etymologically quite unclear (on the formation Chantraine Form. 269, Schwyzer 526). The explanations are not very convincing: prop. "light-circle", from *λύκ- `light' (s. on λύχνος) and ἄβα τροχός H. (Fick GGA 1894, 240, Bechtel Lex. s. v., v. Blumenthal ZONF 13, 157); prop. "Lycianking (-priest, -god)", i.e. Apollon, elliptically for `feast of Apollon', lydian word like βασιλεύς (Fraser Streitberg-Festgabe 93ff.); prop. "wolfs-run" (E. Maaß IF 43, 259ff.); prop. "religion" (Theander Symb. Danielsson 349ff.). Cf. the remarks by Kretschmer Glotta 15, 198f.; 17, 214; 22, 262. - (Not here Λυκαβηττός.) The variant with μ and the suffix - αντ- show a Pre-Greek word.

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