ὀλιγ-ηπελής

Grammatical information: adj. (ptc.)

Meaning: `weak, powerless' (Ο 24 a. 245, ε 457), - έουσα (τ 356).

Origin: IE [Indo-European] [52] * h₂pel- `strength'

Etymology: From ὀλιγ-ηπελής (AP, Opp.) metr. enlarged (Schwyzer 724, Leumann Hom. Wörter 116 n. 83, Chantraine Gramm. hom. 1, 349). From there ὀλιγηπελ-ίη f. `weakness, impotence' (ε 468). Thus εὑηπελ-ίη f. `strength, thriving' (Call.: εὑηπελής H.), opposite κακηπελ-ίη, - έων (Nic.); also ἀνηπελίη ἀσθένεια H. and νηπελέω = ἀδυνατέω (Hp.). Since Düntzer KZ 13, 17 f. ( ὀλιγ)-ηπελής is derived from a noun *ἄπελος n. `strength' (with comp. lengthening; Schwyzer 447) and connected with Germ., e.g. OWNo. afl, OE afol n. `strength'; here alo El. (Illyr.?) PN Τευτί-απλος, Illyr. PN Mag-aplinus etc. As however the Germ. words on the other hand must be connected with Lat. ops, opus etc., the Gr. ἀ- would be unclear. -- Here still the denominative ἀν-απελάζω in ἀναπελάσας ἀναρρωσθείς H. -- Details w. further lit. in Bechtel Lex. s. v., WP. 1, 176, Pok. 52, W.-Hofmann s. epulum and ops. Cf. also on νήπιος. - This leads to the reconstruction * h₂pel- (with νηπελ-έω \< *n̥-h₂pel-); the connection with Lat. ops may have to be abandoned.

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