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glacies

Meaning

Concepts

(declension-5) ice
(declension-5, figuratively) hardness

Frequency

Pronounced as (IPA)

[ˈɡɫa.ki.eːs]

Of uncertain origin. Attested from Varro onwards. The ending is -iēs (noun-forming suffix), and the initial element is traditionally compared to gelū (“frost”), from Proto-Indo-European *gel-u-, from Proto-Indo-European *gel- (“to freeze”). Nevertheless, per De Vaan, there is no apparent way to derive glaciēs from the latter. Lewis & Short proposed a connection with Ancient Greek γάλα (gála, “milk”), noting also the verb γλαγάω (glagáō, “to be milky”). The implication that glaciēs is related to lac (“milk”) is neither semantically nor phonologically convincing.