The Voynich Ninja

Words EVA sk-
There are eleven words in the manuscript, beginning with sk-:

1. skaiin (3) A/B,
   
2. skaiiodar (1) A,
   
3. skain (1) B,
   
4. skal (1) B,
   
5. skar (1) B,
   
6. skeeal (1) A,
   
7. skeekyd (1) A,
   
8. skeeody (1) B,
   
9. skeey (1) B,
   
10. skey (1) A,
    
11. sky (1) A.
    

I usually read the letter k EVA as n or m, depending on the position of its horizontal bar.
However, there are apparently no words in Ancient Greek beginning with σν, only with σμ.
Most of the words in this list can be conjugated forms of the verb σμάω – wipe or cleanse with soap or ointment; wipe, wipe clean:

• skaiin – σμῶν, masculine/neuter present participle;
  
• skain – σμῆν/ σμᾷν, present infinitive;
  
• skal – σμᾷ, 2nd/3rd present;
  
• skar – σμᾷς = σμῇς, 2nd singular present;
  
• sky – σμῇ, 2nd/3rd present..
  

The words skeey (84r.43) and skey (32v.9) can be σμέεις and σμεῖς, 2nd present of σμέω, Ionian for σμάω.


Another possibility for skeey and skey can be σμυός = σμοιός = σκυθρωπός – of sad or angry countenance, sullen; of things, gloomy, sad, melancholy; of color, sad-colored, dark and dull.


The word skeekyd (rather skekyd) on 102r2 can be σμηνηδ. for σμηνηδόν, adv. – in swarms or σμινύδ. for σμινύδος, genitive of σμινύς – two-pronged hoe or mattock.


Can we read the word skeeody on 86v3 just muo89 instead of smuo89, taking the example of σμᾰλερός = μαλερός, σμᾰράσσω = μαράσσω, σμᾰρίλη = μαρίλη, σμήνη = μήνη etc.?

In this case, several interpretations are possible:
μειότης – minimizing; minority;

• μειώτης – causing diminution;
  
• μειωτός – capable of diminution;
  
• μυώδη – mouse-like; muscular;
  
• μυωτός – either made of mouse-skin, or embroidered with figures of mice, χιτών (among the Armenians); furnished with muscles.
  

As for the word skeeal on page 99r, either it’s not Greek, or we should read it as muai, for example μῦαι, plural of μῦα = μυῖα – fly, carrion-fly, bluebottle, gall-insect, used by peasants of bees.

I don’t know, at the moment, what connection there might be between this root and the fly or the bee.

Words EVA she(e)od-
The text contains 6 words beginning with sheod-, 6 words beginning with sheeod- and one word beginning with ssheod-:

1. sheeod (2),
   
2. sheeodaiin (1),
   
3. sheeodain (1),
   
4. sheeodar (2),
   
5. sheeodees (1),
   
6. sheeody (4),
   
7. sheod (8),
   
8. sheodaiin (5),
   
9. sheodal (4),
   
10. sheodar (1),
    
11. sheodol (1),
    
12. sheody (50),
    
13. ssheodain (1).
    

First, I think that ee, which I read as u, is equivalent to e, which I read as i.
The root word would be sheody with 50 occurrences, and the others would be its inflected forms.
I read this word skio89 and it can transcribe Greek words derived from the word « shadow », σκῐά:

• sheody/ sheeody – 1 σκῐωτός – striped, shaded; dark colored 2 σκῐώδης – shady, of weather, dark, gloomy, of colours, dark 3 σκῐωδῶς – in the shadows 4 Σκίαθος, an island in the Cyclades;
  
• sheodaiin/ sheeodaiin – 1 σκιωτῶν, genitive plural of σκῐωτός 2 σκιωδῶν, genitive plural of σκῐώδης;
  
• sheeodain/ ssheeodain – σκῐωταῖν, feminine dual of σκῐωτός;
  
• sheodal – σκῐωταί, feminine plural of σκῐωτός;
  
• sheodar/ sheeodar – σκῐωτάς, accusative plural of σκῐωτός;
  
• sheeodees – σκιώδεις – plural of σκιώδης;
  
• sheodol – σκιωτοί/ σκιωτά, masculine/ neutral plural of σκῐωτός.
  

All that remains for me is to explain the word sheod/sheeod, is it an abbreviation like σκῐωτ. or σκιώδ.?

Word EVA apo,rairapy
The word apo,rairapy (105v.32), transcribed by Takahashi as aporair.apy, is unique in the manuscript. I propose reading it as two words: aporais ap9.
The word aporais may be the name of an mollusc ἀπορραΐς/ aporrhais:

• ἀπορραΐς, for αἱμορροΐς – kind of shell-fish, perh. Aporrhais pes-pelicani; in Gloss. expld. by murex.
  

The Greek word ἀπορραΐς can be also a verb:

• ἀπορραΐς, 2nd sg future epic of απορραινω – spirt out, shed about; sprinkle, shower, esp. in Med., sprinkle by way of lustration; Pass., to be dissolved.
  

If we read ai as η, we find two more verbs:

• ἀπορῇς, 2nd sg pres ind/ subj of ἀφοράω/ Ion. ἀπορέω – look away from all others at one, have in view; look at; of a remote object; of Places, look towards; to view from a place; rarely, look away, have the back turned;
  
• ἀπορῇς, 2nd sg pres subj of απορεω2 (Lacon) – to be ἄπορος, i. e. without means or resource: hence, to be at a loss, be in doubt, be puzzled; in Dialectic, start a question, raise a difficulty; to be at a loss for, in want of; to be in want, to be poor;
  
• ἀπορῇς, 2nd sg future Doric of ἀπορραίνω (see above).
  

The word apy can be ἆπος = αἶπος – height, steep, unless it is ἄπους – without foot or feet, in reference to the mollusc aporrhais ?

Word EVA kchedykary
The single word kchedykary is quite long, and I previously considered it to be two words because the word kchedy alone exists with over 20 occurrences.

Currently, I think it would be better to read it as it is written, that is, as one word, for example, n(m)hi89n(m)ar9.
It can be μεθημέρας or μεθ’ημέρας – with the day, at the arrival of the day, at dawn.
Followed by a number, μεθ’ημέρας D, means « after D days ».

The word ykar (36) can be related:
ykar – ἦμαρ = ἡμέρα – day, (acc sg, as adv) by day; τὸ ἦμαρ – on that day.

Words EVA oaiin et o.aiin
A few years ago I suggested an interpretation of the word You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. on page 67r1.
In fact, this word was transcribed as o.aiin, but I had neglected the space to conflate it with the more numerous oaiin words in the text.
This was, incidentally, a second attempt at reading this word; the You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. was to combine it with the preceding word.
Today I’m making a third attempt, and I hope it will be correct and the last.
I will read this word as it is transcribed, without any embellishment: o.aiin – o wn.
In Ancient Greek, this would be ὁ ὤν, where ὁ is a masculine definite article and ὤν is the present participle of εἰμί – to be, to exist.
The two together give ὁ ὤν – in the Holy Books, the one who is, the Being par excellence, i.e., God, the Eternal.
Of course, I wonder if the word « the Eternal » would be appropriately placed on the botanical pages, or if another explanation is needed.
For oaiin I keep my previous proposals:

• ὀων, gen pl of ὄα – service-tree, Sorbus domestica;
  
• ὀων, gen pl of ὄα = ὤα, hem or border; sheep-skin.
  

A few words EVA olk-.
In this post I will examine some short words beginning with olk- and look for their possible equivalents in Ancient Greek:

1. olkaiin/ -ων (31),
   
2. olkain/ -αιν/ειν (33),
   
3. olkair/ αιρ/αις (5),
   
4. olkal/ -αι (13),
   
5. olkar/ -ας (19),
   
6. olkoiin/ -ουν (1),
   
7. olkol/ -οι (3),
   
8. olkor/ -ορ/ος (4),
   
9. olky/ -η (22).
   

I’ll start with the endings. The good news is that there is You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. to guide us in this search.
The bad news, it’s not always possible to distinguish between nouns and verbs.
If we take the word olkos as our basis, olky would be its feminine form and all the other words would be their declined forms.
Aside from the difference in endings, there are two other possible sources of variation in reading: ol and k EVA. I think ol can transcribe οι or α, and k could be ν or μ.
In the long run, we will be forced to choose between οινος/οινη, οιμος/οιμη, ανος/ανη and αμος/αμη:

• οἶνος – wine; fermented juice of other kinds; the wine-market; name of Dionysus (ϝοῖνος, Lat. vinum);
  
• οἴνη – old name for the vine; =οἶνος – wine; the ace on dice; (OLat. oinos = unus);
  
• οἶμος – way, road, path; stripe; strip of land, tract, country;
  
• οἴμη = οἶμος, metaph., way of song, song, lay;
  
• ἄνοος – without understanding, silly;
  
• ανη – fulfilment, accomplishment;
  
• ἁμός = ἡμέτερος – our;
  
• ἁμή – fem of ἁμός – our;
  
• ἄμη – shovel; water-bucket.
  

We will also have to choose between the verbs οἰνόω, οἰμάω, ἀνέω, ἄνω, ἀμάω and ἀμόω:

• οἰνόω – intoxicate, Pass., turn into wine;
  
• οἰμάω, (only fut. and aor.) – swoop or pounce upon;
  
• ἀνέω = πτίσσω – winnow grain; bray in a mortar;
  
• ἄνω – accomplish, finish;
  
• ἀμάω – orig., reap corn; generally, cut; mow down in battle;
  
• ἀμόω – hang (Tarent.).
  

Certainly, with such a large number of possibilities, I cannot speak of great progress, but I do not lose hope.

EVA words chal and kiin
I read the word chal (48) as kai and I think it could transcribe the Greek words γᾶι or καὶ:

• γᾶι, fem sg dat dor /pl of γῆ – earth; earth, as an element; land, country; the earth or ground as tilled;
  
• καὶ – and; also Adv., even, also, just.
  

The single word kiin can be νῦν or μῦν:

• νῦν – now, both of the present moment, and of the present time generally; of the immediate past, just now, but now; of the future, presently;
  
• μῦν, acc of μῦς – mouse or rat; jerboa; a shell-fish, mussel; a large kind of whale; muscle of the body; gag.
  

The two words on f113r.23, chal.kiin, can be καὶ νῦν – and now, even now.
Unless it’s καὶ μῦν – and the mouse (mussel, muscle)?

Moreover, in examining the word ἀνόνητος in LSJ, I paid attention, better late than never, to the example from Sophocles « …περισσὰ κἀνόνητα σώματα … » (S.Aj.758). In this quotation, καὶ and ἀνόνητα are merged into κἀνόνητα.
If chal means καὶ, then EVA words beginning with cha-, che-, cho-, and chy- can also result from crasis and therefore need to be re-examined.

Words EVA roral.fchee,llor
The words roral.fchee,llor on page 113v.13 can describe a plant, if we read fchee,llor (fhullor) as φυλλος.
This word comes from the word φύλλον – leaf and is used in compound botanical terms, for example πλατύ-φυλλος – broad-leaved (Latin latifolius, a, um).
If my guess is correct, the preceding word, roral, must describe some property of leaves.
The first word that comes to mind is a Latin word rosae – from the rose (from the rosebush). The whole could form the name of a rose-leaved plant.
Considering the existence of a word composed of Latin and Greek terms at the same time seems odd, however it would not be the only oddity of this manuscript.

If you know botanical terminology, feel free to comment!

Words EVA shod-
In this post I examine words beginning with shod-:

1. shod (8) A/B,
   
2. shoda (1) B,
   
3. shodaiin (18) A/B,
   
4. shodaim (1) A,
   
5. shodain (3) A/B,
   
6. shodal (3) A,
   
7. shodam (1) A,
   
8. shodan (1) A,
   
9. shodar (1) B,
   
10. shodary (1) A,
    
11. shodody (1) B,
    
12. shodol (3) A,
    
13. shody (45) A/B.
    

The vast majority of words on this list can, in my opinion, transcribe Greek words based on the word σκότος, ὁ/τό – darkness, gloom, dizziness, vertigo:

• shody – sko89 – σκότος or σκότη – its plural neutral;
  
• shodol – sko8oi – σκότοι – masculine plural of σκότος; σκοτοῖ, 3rd sg of σκοτόω/ σκοτῶ – darken, blind; stupefy; make dizzy; Pass., to be in darkness, suffer from vertigo;
  
• shodaiin – sko8aun – σκότων, genitive plural of σκότος; σκοτῶν, masculine present participle of σκοτόω/ σκοτῶ;
  
• shodody – sko8o89 – σκοτώδης – dark; obscure; dizzy;
  
• shodar – sko8ar – σκοτήρ (Byz.) – to darken, to shade; metaph., to obscure;
  
• shodary – sko8ar9 – 1 σκοταρία – nether darkness, generally, gloom, darkness, the dark quarter, i.e. the West (σκοτάδια gr. – darkness, dark) 2 σκοτερός – of persons, in the dark, in secret, secret; of things, dark, the darkness of night, night 3 decl form of σκοτήρ;
  
• shodam – sko8ar… – probably equivalent to the previous word;
  
• shodain – sko8ain – σκοτόειν, infinitive of σκοτόω;
  
• shodaim – sko8air… – decl form of σκοτήρ;
  
• shodan – sko8an – σκοτίαν, decl form dor. of σκότιος – dark, secret or of σκοτία – darkness, gloom; Σκοτιά, epith. of Aphrodite in Egypt;
  
• shodal – sko8ai – read as σκότη/ σκότοι, decl form of σκότος or as σκοτίαι, plural of σκοτία.
  
• Finally, shoda may be the Greek word σκότα – rope, with which the sails of a sailing ship are stretched. This nautical term, derived from the Italian word scotta, is said to be attested since the 15th century*.
  

*Georgios K. Giannakis, Christoforos Charalambakis, Franco Montanari, Antonios Rengakos – Studies in Greek Lexicography – De Gruyter, 2018, 352 pages

A few words yshe-
In this post I will examine 7 words beginning with yshe- which may be, in my opinion, Byzantine terms, based on the Greek word σκιά – shadow, reflection, phantom:

1. ysheodaiin (1) B,
   
2. ysheody (1) B,
   
3. ysheo[k:t]aiin (1) B,
   
4. ysheol (1) A,
   
5. ysheor (4) A/B,
   
6. ysheos (1) B,
   
7. yshey (11) A/B.
   

The words ysheos, ysheor and yshey can be ήσκιος = σκιά.
The word ysheol would be ήσκιοι, plural of ήσκιος.
The word ysheody can be ἡσκιάδας, singular genitive/dative or ἡσκιάδες, plural of ἡσκιάδα = σκιά.
The word ysheodaiin would be ἡσκιαδῶν, genitive plural of ἡσκιάδα.
The word ysheo[k:t]aiin could be ησκιώνων, present participle of ησκιώνω = σκῐάζω – overshadow, shade, darken.