E 0163          CHERSONESE

The word " chersonese " is based on Greek

H 0453             ר ר ח

Concept of root : aridity

Hebrew word

pronunciation

English meanings

ר ר ח

gharer

arid (terrain)

Related English words

chersonese

Comparison between European words and Hebrew

Languages

Words

Pronunciation

English meanings

Similarity in roots

Hebrew

ר ר ח

gharer

arid (terrain)

gh . r . r <

* gh . r

Greek

χερσος;

χερρος

khersos; kherros

arid terrain

kh . r

English

chersonese

chersones, pensinsula

ch . r s

 

 

Proto-Semitic *GHAR --- *GER-R-OS Greek

 

 

The second R in this Hebrew root has been added later in the process of creating a three consonant root out of an earlier two consonant one. This is a very common development in Hebrew. Also the third consonant in the Greek word of this entry, the "S" has been added later. In fact, in Attic, the language of Athens, the S is not present, but we find a double R.

 

The English word " chersonese " has been composed of the above mentioned word "khersos " for " dry land " and the word " nèsos " ( island ) .

 

This Hebrew root basically stands for " to be hot, dry" as well as " to be scorched, burned". The word "ח ר ר י ם, gharerim = arid grounds". This is like the meaning of our Greek word.

 

 

Note:
  • Proto-Semitic.The three consonant root of this entry in other Semitic languages expresses various aspects of heat and burning. It is found in Aramaic "ח ר ר , gharar = to burn". Ugaritic uses it to say "to burn, roast", but also "to ripen". Ethiopian "gharara = to be hot". Arabic has "gharra = was hot, burned" , but also "thirsted". Akkadian "eruru" says "to burn".

     

    Then it must be noted that Hebrew and Aramaic also have a root "ח ר ך, GH R K" with the messages of "to roast, singe, scorch". The first two consonant of both roots indicate an original two consonant root that certainly was present in Proto-Semitic . The root , also already with two R's was probably present in Proto-Semitic.This language thus had a two consonant root "*ח ר , GH R" and quite possibly already also the developed three consonant root "*ח ר ר , GH R R".

 

Note:
  • Proto-Semitic. Lack of information about words in other groups of languages limits the comparison to Semitic and Greek.

 

 

 

 
"...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: 27/10/2012 at 17.13.34