EtymologicalStudies.pdfVIP

Etymological Studies Author(s): J. P. Postgate Source: The American Journal of Philology, Vol. 3, No. 11 (1882), pp. 329-339 Published by: The Johns Hopkins University Press Stable URL: /stable/287102 . Accessed: 07/09/2011 10:31 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms Conditions of Use, available at . /page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact support@. The Johns Hopkins University Press is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to The American Journal of Philology. V.-ETYMOLOGICAL STUDIES. I. Mzlciber, mulcere, marcus, marcere, taA)ax6o. Murcea, mzurcus, inurceus, nmurcidus, fillapxv.1 The name of Vulcan which stands first the words that among head this articleseems to have roused the curiosity of the Romans themselves. In an inscription2Volcano miti sive MulciberoL. Vettius, it is taken to be a euphemistic or propitiatory way of deprecating the fierce ravages of fire: compare EvEriviEs. Festus s. v. says izulciber Volcanus a molliendo ferrodictus, and he is followed by Corssen,who connects it with mulceo in the same sense of softening the iron, translatingit schmelzbringer and comparingthe Sanskrit mriv touch. On the first of these derivationswe must remark that we shall find soothing, treating gently to be a late meaning of mulceo, whereas Mulciber has