From: "E B Holtsmark" <laohu-AT-avalon.net>
Subject: Re: Melymbrosia
Date: Mon, 3 Aug 1998 17:41:36 -0500


Hi Hsiu-Chuan!

The word 'melymbrosia' looks very much like a blend of the stem mel-i
('honey' in ancient Greek) and the word ambrosia, the food of the gods in
Greek mythology.  Ambrosia is itself analyzable as meaning something like
'not "die-able"' -- alpha privative meaning 'no' and the 'mbrot-' stem being
a phonological development in the compounding of alpha privative and the
root mRt (a Latin cognate is mort- that gives us the Eng derivative
'mortal').  If I'm right about the first part, I would have created
melimbrosia (with an i rather than a y), and the first part might suggest a
substitute for nektar, the drink of the gods (cf mjoed = mead among the old
Nordicgods).

In short, the word should suggest something like 'honeyed immortality'.  As
far as I know it must be a coinage by VW or one of her classically educated
friends, as I don't think the work exists in ancient Greek as such.

I have a Ph.D. in classics and experience in comparative etymology.

I hope this helps -- let me know what this is all for.

Thanx,

j

e b holtsmark - aka jack      äran först och främst
laohu-AT-avalon.net                esse quam videri
                                               aien aristeuein


-----Original Message-----
From: Lee Hsiu-Chuan <ptchen2-AT-ms14.hinet.net>
To: postcolonial-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu
<postcolonial-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu>
Date: Monday, August 03, 1998 6:13 AM
Subject: Melymbrosia


>I am reading Virginia Woolf's _The Voyage Out_ and wonders if anyone
>could kindly give me some thoughts about the meaning of
>"Melymbrosia"--the working title Woolf once adopted for her first
>novel.  What does the word "Melymbrosia" mean literally and why did
>Woolf choose this title?  Thanks in advance.
>
>
>
>
>
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>




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