Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/met-

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This Proto-Indo-European 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-Indo-European

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Etymology

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Part of the same group of roots as *meh₁- (to measure), *med- (to estimate, judge), possibly also *meh₂- (to grow, mature), *medʰi- (middle, between), *meǵ-h₂- (great, big), all with a sense of "measurement, estimation > size, distance, amount".

Root

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*met-

  1. to cut (by measure) (with an inherent sense of by measurement or time: "to cut down" > "to mow"; "to cut into" > "plow")

Derived terms

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  • *met-eti
    • Proto-Celtic: *meteti
    • Proto-Italic: *metō
  • *met-el-
  • *met-l̥-yom (possibly) (with secondary collective suffix *-yom)
    • Ancient Greek: μέταλλον (métallon, mine, quarry) (quarries generally require measured cutting)
  • *mot-i-
    • Proto-Italic:
      • Latin: mateola (wooden hammer or agricultural implement)
    • Proto-Germanic: *maþilō (plough)
    • Proto-Balto-Slavic:
  • *mot-né-
    • Proto-Germanic: *mattukaz (ploughshare, mattock)