ἄβαγνα

Ancient Macedonian

Etymology

Unknown. Apparently equivalent to Ancient Greek ῥόδα (rhóda), according to Hesychius of Alexandria.

Multiple etymologies have been proposed, but none have proven satisfactory. For example, Probonas (1972) interprets this word as formally equivalent to a hypothetical Ancient Greek form *εὔοδνα, meaning "sweet-smelling". To this, he compares Ancient Greek εὔοσμος (eúosmos, “sweet-smelling”) and εὔομφος (eúomphos, “id.”). This proposal is hampered by the fact that (1) it assumes a number of unattested intermediary forms (2) to connect it to an unattested Greek form.

Noun

ἄβαγνα (ábagna) (plural)

1. (hapax) roses

Usage notes

• Only attested as a hapax in Hesychius:
  • 5th century CE, Hesychius Alexandreus, Συναγωγὴ Πασῶν Λέξεων κατὰ Στοιχεῖον Α:

    ἄβαγνα· ῥόδα. Μακεδόνες

    ábagna; rhóda. Makedónes

    ábagna: roses (Macedonians)

Further reading

• Hesychius' Lexicon: α
• “ἄβαγνα”, in Liddell & Scott (1940) A Greek–English Lexicon, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• ἄβαγνα in the Diccionario Griego–Español en línea (2006–2025)