Elmigx

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Elmigx lumbricus et cetera.


Apparatus:

Elmigx AC | Elmige B | Elmix e

lumbricus AC e | lombricus B

et cetera om. B


Translation:

Elmigx (means) intestinal worm and so on.


Commentary:

For further information on intestinal worms, see Elminthes.

The word elmigx is very interesting from a linguistic point of view. It could be a transliteration of ἔλμιγξ, a Greek word which is only attested in one source. The ending -igx would be pronounced /-inx/ in both Classical and Medieval Greek.

The Classical form of this word is ἕλμινς /hélmins/, with the plural ἕλμινθες /hélminthes/; the 'h' at the beginning of the word was no longer being pronounced in the Middle Ages, see for instance the entry Elminthes.

However, different forms of the word are attested in the vernacular Greek of the Middle Ages. The Kriaras dictionary lists ελμίγγιον /elmíngion/ [[1]], and one manuscript transmitting the Therapeutics of John the Physician, manuscript B, ω, 244, ed. Zipser (2009: 323), l. 16, glosses ἔλμινθας /élminthas/, the more common form of the word, with ἔλμινθας τὰς λεγομένας ἐρμίγγια /élminthas tás legoménas ermíngia/, "intestinal worms, which are called ermingia".

Also, forms such as ἕλμιγγα /hélminga/ or ἕλμιγγας /hélmingas/ are transmitted in (very few) sources, for instance Plutarch and the Hippiatrica.

The main difference between the common form /hélmins/ and /élminx/ is that one ends with -ns and the other with -nx. The existence of vernacular forms ending in -ingia and the few scattered readings ending in -inga(s) support the hypothesis that elminx, or /élmings/, as it would be pronounced, is in fact the correct reading.

The nominative is only attested in one other source, a glossary commonly attributed to Ps. Cyril. It reads: ΕΛΜΙΓΞ {/elminx/} lubricus. For an edition please see this link.

See also: Elminthes


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