Reconstruction:Proto-Celtic/mēnis

This Proto-Celtic 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-Celtic

Etymology

From Proto-Indo-European *mēy(H)nis, from *(s)mēy(H)- (“to cut, hew”). Cognate with Proto-Germanic *smiþaz (“smith”).

Noun

*mēnis f

1. ore, metal
2. mine

Declension

Masculine/feminine i-stem
	singular	dual	plural
nominative	*mēnis	*mēnī	*mēnīs
vocative	*mēni	*mēnī	*mēnīs
accusative	*mēnim	*mēnī	*mēnims
genitive	*mēneis	*mēnyow	*mēnyom
dative	*mēnei	*mēnibom	*mēnibos
locative	*mēnei	*?	*?
instrumental	*mēnī	*mēnibim	*mēnibis

Descendants

• Proto-Brythonic: *muɨn
  • Old Breton: moin (“delicate”)
    • Middle Breton: moen (“thin”)
      • Breton: moan
  • Old Cornish: muin (“gracile”)
  • Old Welsh: muin (“worth, value”)
    • Middle Welsh: mwyn
      • Welsh: mwyn
• Old Irish: méin, mían
  • Irish: méin, míanach
• Gaulish:
  • → Late Latin: mina
    • Old French: myne, mine
      • Middle French: mine, myne
        • French: mine
      • → Middle English: mine, myne, myn
        • English: mine