Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/daniz
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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
Possibly from Proto-Indo-European *dʰenh₂- (“run, flow”). Or possibly from the same root as den (i.e. "lowland").
Pronunciation
Noun
*daniz m
- a Dane
Inflection
| i-stemDeclension of *daniz (i-stem) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| singular | plural | ||
| nominative | *daniz | *danīz | |
| vocative | *dani | *danīz | |
| accusative | *danį | *daninz | |
| genitive | *danīz | *danjǫ̂ | |
| dative | *danī | *danimaz | |
| instrumental | *danī | *danimiz | |
Derived terms
- *daniskaz
- *Halbadaniz (“Half-Dane”)
Descendants
The first mention of the Danes by name is in the 6th century by Jordanes. It's not certain whether the Danes existed as a group long before that time, and so whether the name was used to refer to a tribe in Proto-Germanic. But in any case, historically the name does go back to this form.