μύρμηξ

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Ancient Greek

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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    From Proto-Indo-European *morwi-. Related to Old Armenian մրջիւն (mrǰiwn) and Latin formica and perhaps Sanskrit वल्मी (valmī). Despite the suffix -ηκ- (-ēk-), which typically indicates origin from Pre-Greek (cf. Beekes 2014), Beekes considers this to be a genuinely Indo-European term which underwent various tabooistic deformations, comparing Proto-Indo-European *wr̥mis (worm) (see ῥόμος (rhómos, wood-worm)), and notes that similar forms with a velar suffix are found in other Indo-European cognates: Latin formīca (ant), Sanskrit वल्मीक (valmīka, ant-hill). Compare ὅρμικας pl (hórmikas, ants). βύρμαξ (búrmax) ~ βόρμαξ (bórmax) may be related as well.

    Pronunciation

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    Noun

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    μύρμηξ (múrmēxm (genitive μύρμηκος); third declension

    1. ant
    2. a mythical gold-digging animal sometimes identified with ants

    Declension

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    Derived terms

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    Descendants

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    References

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