Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/-āną

This Proto-Germanic entry contains reconstructed terms and roots. As such, the term(s) in this entry are not directly attested, but are hypothesized to have existed based on comparative evidence.

Proto-Germanic

Etymology

Somewhat uncertain. Reconstructed by Ringe[1] as originating from earlier *-ajaną, from Proto-Indo-European *-oyéti (factitive verb suffix). The reconstruction of this Indo-European suffix is uncertain, but it would also be the origin of the Ancient Greek -όω (-óō) contracted verbs.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ɑː.nɑ̃/

Verb

*-āną

  1. Creates stative - fientive verbs from other verbs, from adjectives and from nouns.
  2. Creates denominative verbs from nouns.
  3. Creates factitive verbs from adjectives.

Inflection

Conjugation of *-āną (weak class 3)
active voice passive voice
present tense indicative subjunctive imperative indicative subjunctive
1st singular *-ō ? ? ?
2nd singular *-aisi ? *-ai *-āsai ?
3rd singular *-aiþi ? *-āþau *-āþai ?
1st dual *-ōs ?
2nd dual *-āþiz ? *-āþiz
1st plural *-āmaz ? *-ānþai ?
2nd plural *-aiþ ? *-aiþ *-ānþai ?
3rd plural *-ānþi ? *-ānþau *-ānþai ?
past tense indicative subjunctive
1st singular *-adǭ *-adēdį̄
2nd singular *-adēz *-adēdīz
3rd singular *-adē *-adēdī
1st dual *-adēdū *-adēdīw
2nd dual *-adēdudiz *-adēdīdiz
1st plural *-adēdum *-adēdīm
2nd plural *-adēdud *-adēdīd
3rd plural *-adēdun *-adēdīn
present past
participles *-āndz *-adaz

Derived terms

Proto-Germanic class 3 weak verbs

Descendants

  • Proto-West Germanic: *-ēn
    • Old English: -ian (in a few cases; preceded by a palatalised consonant or non-backed æ)
    • Old High German: -ēn
      • Middle High German: -en
  • Old Norse: -ja (only after short stems)
  • Gothic: -𐌰𐌽 (-ān)

References

  1. ^ Ringe, Donald (2006), From Proto-Indo-European to Proto-Germanic (A Linguistic History of English; 1)‎[1], Oxford: Oxford University Press, →ISBN