Reconstruction:Proto-Mongolic/ǰirguxan

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This Proto-Mongolic 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-Mongolic

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Proto-Mongolic cardinal numbers
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    Cardinal : *ǰirguxan

Etymology

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Suggested to be a compound of *jir- (two) +‎ *guxa/n (three), *jir being the original ordinal number 'two', and *gu(r)ba/n 'three' being the latter component, evidenced by Middle Mongol ᠵᠢᠷᠢᠨ (ǰirin) being used to count two of female beings in the Secret History, Khitan 𘲝 (jur, two), and Tungusic teen numeral borrowings from a Mongolic-related language such as Jurchen 只兒歡 (*dʒïrxon, twelve) suggesting different original numerals in Pre-Proto-Mongolic.

If it is indeed an innovation, the original Pre-Proto-Mongolic root may have been *nil, as suggested by the Jurchen-Manchu borrowings such as Jurchen 泥渾 (*nixun, sixteen) and Jin Dynasty Jurchen 女鲁 (*niol, six) and Manchu ᠨᡳᠣᠯᡥᡠᠨ (niolhun, the sixteenth day of the first month).

Compare Khitan 𘭬 (six).

Numeral

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*ǰirguxan

  1. six
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See also

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Descendants

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References

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