valmīka

Grammatical information: m.

Meaning: `ant'; metaph. `submarine rocks' (IA, Lyc.), also as PN (Hdt.), on the meaning cf. μυρμηκία; `gantlet with metal studs' (Poll.).

Other forms: Dor. (Theoc.) μύρμᾱξ, ᾱκος. Also μύρμος (Lyc.), βύρμαξ βόρμαξ, ὅρμικας H.

Compounds: Rare compp., e.g. μυρμηκο-λέων (LXX), λεοντο-μύρμηξ (Hdn. Gr.) name of a fabulous animal; cf. Risch IF 59, 256.

Derivatives: 1. μυρμηκ-ιά f. `ant-hill' (Arist., Thphr.), metaph. `crowd' ( Com. Adesp., H.), `triller, arpeggio' (Pherecr.). -- 2. μυρμηκ-ία `wart under the skin, irritation caused by it (Hp., Ph.) with μυρμηκιάω `be afflicted with warts' (LXX.), from which - ίασις (medic.). On 1. a. 2. s. Scheller Oxytonierung 41 f. -- 3. μυρμήκ-(ε)ιον n. name of an ant-like spider (Nic., Plin.). -- 4. μυρμηκ-ίας λίθος `stone with ant- or wart-like lumps on it' (Plin.), μύρμηξ χρυσός `gold dug out by μύρμηκες' (Hld.). -- 5. - ῖτις ( λίθος) `id.' (Plin.). -- 6. μυρμηκ-ώδης `ant-like' (Plu.), - ώεις `full of warts' (Marc. Sid.; metr. lengthened from - όεις, cf. Schwyzer 527). -- 7. μυρμηκ-ίζω as medic. expression `feel as though ants were running under the finger', of the pulse, `itch' (medic.). -- On itself stands μυρ-μηδών ξυνοικία τῶν μυρμήκων, μυρμηδόνες οἱ μύρμηκες ὑπὸ Δωριέων H., transformation of μύρμηξ resp. derivation from μύρμος (s. above) after τενθρηδών and other insectnames; cf. also σφηκών and other place-indications in - ών; old variation k: d assumes Specht Ursprung 205 a. 230 [impossible].

Origin: IE [Indo-European] [749] *moru̯i- `ant'

Etymology: For the formation cf. σκώληξ, σφήξ a.o. (Schwyzer 497, Chantraine Form. 380 f.); a velar suffix, prob. without genetic connection with μύρμηξ, is also seen in Lat. formīca `ant' and Skt. valmīka- m. n. `ant-hill'. -- The basis is seen in different forms in many IE languages, mostly with anlaut. m and in-(aus)laut. -u̯-, also with inlaut. -r-: IE *moru̯-ī ̆ in Av. maoiri-, Celt., e.g. OIr. moirb, Slav., e.g. ORuss. morovij; IE * mour-, * meur- in Germ., e.g. OWNo. maurr -n. (PGm. * maura-), OSwed. myra f. (PGm. * meuriōn-). Besides with anlaut. u̯- and inlaut. -m-: Skt. vamrá- m. (cf. valmīka above), thus βόρμαξ, βύρμαξ with β- for Ϝ-; in ὅρμικας a Ϝ- may have been lost. On itself stand Lat. formīca, whose f- however may go back through dissimilation to m- (cf. on μορμώ) and which would then be close to μύρμηξ. -- Further details on this old and popular word with diff. hypotheses on its development in WP. 2, 306f., Pok. 749. W.-Hofmann and Ernout-Meillet s. formīca, Vasmer s. muravéj; also Fraenkel s. marvà, which however because of its deviant meaning ('horse-fly') must be kept apart.

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