 |
 |
In a message dated 8/31/00 6:12:59 PM GMT Daylight Time, [log in to unmask] writes: > I assume that the resemblance of the OI words "nin" and "uinnius" > (or their unnatural grafting together as "ninnius"!) to Nennius is > what is at issue here. This remark of Dennis King's is to misconstrue the debate somewhat. It is clear why the saint's name _Nynia_ (Bede, etc) mutated to the high medieval form _Ninnianus_ (Ailred). 'Nennius', the pseudonym for the author of a late MS of the Historia Brittonum, is probably a learned jest involving _Nenia_ (< _nenia_, _naenia_, 'song of lamentation'), the dirge-goddess. Henry visit the Scottish Place-Name Society website at http://www.st-and.ac.uk/institutes/sassi/spns/index.htm %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%