Knidi
Knidi grece urtica eo quod tacta pruritum facit.
Apparatus:
Knidi AC f | Knidos ul’ knidi B | Kalldi e | | after Knidi p attempts to write Greek ΚνίδΗ /KnídE/
tacta ABC fp | t͞c͞u e
facit AC ep | faciat f | fatiat B
Translation:
Knidi is Greek for Latin urtica {"stinging nettle"}, because when touched it causes an itching sensation.
Commentary:
Greek κνίδη /knídē/ means "nettle, Urtica", but also "sea-nettle, Actinia" (LSJ), the latter animals are included, because there are species like the "snake-locks anemone" Anemonia viridis Forskål, living along the shores of the Pacific Ocean and the Mediterranean, whose stings can affect humans.
Simon portrays the itacist pronunciation of this word, where the late Greek sound change η > ι {/ē/ > /i/} occurred, resulting in /knídi/.
Simon correctly states that κνίδη /knídē/ is related to κνίζω /knízō/ "to scratch, gash; tickle", see his "when touched it causes an itching sensation".
According to the Greek Dioscorides, 4, 93, ed. Wellmann (1906-14: I.251-2), κνίδη /knídē/ is a synonym of ἀκαλήφη /akalḗphē/, cf. ἀκαλήφη• οἱ δὲ κνίδην /akalḗphē: hoi dè knídēn/ {"akalephe, some people call it knide"}.
For further information see Urtica, Acalife, Ignida.
WilfGunther 13/09/13
