ἴυγξ

See also: Ἴϋγξ

Ancient Greek

Etymology

From ἰύζω (iúzō, shout, yell). Beekes reconstructs Pre-Greek *wʲug-[1].

Pronunciation

 

Noun

ἴυγξ (íunx) f (genitive ἴυγγος); third declension

  1. Eurasian wryneck, Jynx torquilla
    1. (figuratively) spell, charm
    2. passionate yearning

Usage notes

  • The ancient wizards and witches used to bind it to a wheel, which they turned round, believing that they drew men’s hearts along with it and charmed them to obedience; hence it was much used to recover unfaithful lovers. This operation was called ἕλκειν ἴυγγα ἐπί τινι (hélkein íunga epí tini, to set the magic bird against someone).

Inflection

Descendants

References

  1. Beekes, Robert S.P. (2008), “Palatalized Consonants in Pre-Greek”, in Evidence and Counter-Evidence: Essays in honour of Frederik Kortlandt. Volume 1: Balto-Slavic and Indo-European Linguistics (Studies in Slavic and General Linguistics; 32), pages 45–56
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