νικμᾶν

Grammatical information: v.

Meaning: `part the grain from the chaff, winnow', metaph. `crush, destroy' (Ε 500, B., X., LXX, pap.).

Other forms: aor. λικμῆσαι.

Derivatives: λικμητηρ ́winnower', λικμητρίς `w. fan', also λικμήτωρ, - τής; - ητήριον `w. fan, shovel'; - ητὸς `winnowing, scatter'; - ητικός `belonging to w.'. λικμός, prob. backformation' w. fan', λικμαία surname of Demeter. λίκνον n. `w. fan' (Arist.), sacred basket with first-fruits in Demeter-cult' (S., AP; cf. Nilsson Gr. Rel. 1, 128; λικνοφόρος also `cradle' (h. Merc., Call.), λικνίτης surn. of Dionysos (Orph., Plu.; Redard 210, v, Wilamowitz Glaube 2, 376), - ὶτις ( τροφή S. Ichn. 269), λικνίζω = λικμάω (pap.). - ν(ε)ίκλον τὸ λίκνον H. - ἰκμᾶν λικμᾶν, σῖτον καθαίρειν; ἰκμῶντο ἐσείοντο, ἐπνεοντο H, ἀνικμώμενα (Pl. Ti. 53a; vv.ll. ἀναλικνώμενα, ἀναλικμώμενα), ἀπ-ικμησαι, δι-ικμῶνται (Thphr.) Further from H. εὐ\<νί\> κμητο\<ν\> εὐλί\<κ\> μητον, ἀνικλώμενον ἀνακαθαιρόμενον (cf. on ἀνικμώμενα above) and the suffixless νικᾳ̃ λικμᾳ̃ ̃ νικεῖν (for - κᾶν?) λικμᾶν, νείκεσεν ἔκρινεν, εὐνικές εὐκρινές, νεικητήρ λικμητήρ. Μεγαρεῖς.

Origin: IE [Indo-European] [761] * neik- `swing (cereals) for winnowing'

Etymology: Popular word with variation of the form (as in popular words). If one may start from *νίκνον, *νικνᾶν, the forms λίκνον and νίκλον, prob. also νικμᾶν (in εὑνίκμητον) can be understood as dissimilated forms; further perhaps also λικμᾶν (on the formation Schwyzer 731) from νικμᾶν and, with loss of the anlaut, ἰκμᾶν, s. Bechtel Lex. s. λικμάω after Legerlotz KZ 8, 123f. and Schulze KZ 42. 380f. (= Kl. Schr. 58f.). Diff. on the variation μ:ν Schwyzer 338 (after J. Schmidt a. o.), on ἰκμᾶν J. Schmidt Kritik 108 n. 1 (from ἀνικμᾶν, haplologically for *ἀνα-νικμᾶν, wrongly interpreted). Cf. also Danielsson Eranos 14, 1ff. on the dark ἀπολεικαι (inscr. Miletos). - If one starts from *νίκ-νον, we get an attractive connection with the fullgrade and derived Lith. niekóju, -óti `winnow (corn)', Latv. niẽkât `swing groats in a mill' (Bugge Curt. Stud. 4, 335 f.); cf. the suffixless Greek forms above. Also Celtic forms have been compared, e.g. Welsh nithio, Bret. niza `winnow'. Lith. liekúoti `winnow (corn)' and Latv. lìekša `shovel' have nohing to do with λικμάω (they are folksetymological tranormations after lìkti `remain behind'. - WP. 2, 321, Pok. 761, Fraenkel Wb. s. niekóti m.

Page in Frisk: 2,122-123