Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/alhs
Proto-Germanic
Etymology
Cognate with Lithuanian alkas, elkas (“sanctuary, grove”), Latvian elks (“idol”). Pokorny (p. 32) proposes a derivation from Proto-Indo-European *alk- (“sacred place, sanctuary; idol”) (= *h₂elk-), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂lek- (“to defend”), whence Ancient Greek ἀλέξω (aléxō, “defend, ward off”), Ancient Greek ἀλκή (alkḗ, “defence, help, strength”), Latin ulciscor (“avenge”). Kroonen, however, doubts this, adding that “[g]iven the root noun inflection, it is conceivable that the word was adopted from a local non-I[ndo-]E[uropean] language by Germanic and Baltic after their arrival in Europe” (2013:22 s.v. *alh-).
Noun
*alhs m[1]
Inflection
consonant stemDeclension of *alhs (consonant stem) | |||
---|---|---|---|
singular | plural | ||
nominative | *alhs | *alhiz | |
vocative | *alh | *alhiz | |
accusative | *alhų | *alhunz | |
genitive | *alhiz | *alhǫ̂ | |
dative | *alhi | *alhumaz | |
instrumental | *alhē | *alhumiz |
Related terms
Descendants
- Old English: ealh
- Old Saxon: alah
- Old High German: alah
- Proto-Norse: ᚨᛚᚺ (alh), ᚨᛚᚻ (alh) alh (runic inscription)
- Gothic: 𐌰𐌻𐌷𐍃 (alhs)