GR 1234          PTOA; PTOÉO

H 0232            ת ע ב

Concept of root : terrify

Hebrew word

pronunciation

English meanings

ת ע ב

bi‛et

to terrify

Related English words

none

Comparison between European words and Hebrew

Languages

Words

Pronunciation

English meanings

Similarity in roots

Hebrew

ת ע ב

bi‛et

to terrify

b . t

Greek

πτοα ;

πτοέω

ptoa;

ptoéo

terror ;

to terrify

p t .

 

 

Proto-Semitic *BAHAT --- PTO-A < *PETA- Greek

 

 

Several times one finds a similarity just between Semitic and Greek, without links to other Indo-European languages. Here we see a small space where the two languages still reach out to each other . Both deal with that degree of fright and frightening that is in the realm of terror. And the basic meaning of the Hebrew verb "ba‛ at" is that of the action of terrifying somebody. The same goes for Greek, that as usual also has formed further words around the same meaning.

 

Note:
  • Greek and Hebrew between them have a metathesis between the T-sound and the vowel. This vowel in Hebrew is accentuated by an introducing Ayin, an NG-like soundstop before it is pronounced. In Greek is was a strong independent vowel, according to some a long O, while others say it was an " OW ".

 

Note:
  • Greek. This root is often seen as coming from an older "*peto-", which is quite possible. Then it is also linked to the verb "πετομαι, petomai = to fly " and "πιπτω , pipto = to fall, fail ". This is less convincing because these meanings are too far off . Related is of course another verb : "πτησσω , ptèsso = to frighten, terrorize ". This is a lengthened form on basis of the same root seen in this entry.

 

Note:
  • Proto-Semitic. The picture is a bit complicated, as we see Aramaic and Syriac "ב ה ת, B H T" . This weaker guttural brings us nearer to Greek that has no guttural at all between the P and the T , compensating this with a vowel "O" after the T. It remains uncertain if Proto-Semitic had "*ב ע ת, B Ayin T" or "*ב ה ת, *B H T". Arabic uses a root "ב ח ר, B GH T", which may be a development of either of the two options. But in this case the meaning is not with certainty related : " it came suddenly".

     

    The most probable root for Proto-Semitic seems to be "*ב ה ת, *B H T".

 

Note:
  • Indo-European. We have no indications of cognates outside Greek. Sanscrit "bâdh-" is found in a number of words that touch concepts like "harassment, vexation, torment and even torture", but not directly "terror". It may still be related but it is not sufficient for a hypothesis for Indo-European. We must as often limit ourselves to Greek an Semitic.

 

 

 

 
"...the town, to which was given the name Babel, because it was there that the Lord confused the language of all the world on the face of which He dispersed them. GENESIS 11,9"
 
Created: Tuesday 6 November 2007 at 22.30.54 Updated: 07/10/2012 at 16.26.33