Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/h₁néwn̥

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

Etymology

According to one theory, related to the PIE adjective *néwos (“new”), allegedly an endingless locative meaning "in the new" (reinforced by the preposition *en (“in”), traces of which can allegedly also be seen in Ancient Greek and Armenian reflexes), from the heteroclitic r/n-stem néwr̥ ~ néwn̥, former of which reflexes can be seen in Ancient Greek νεαρός (nearós, “young, youthful”) and Armenian նոր (nor, “new”). However, prothetic vowels in Greek and Armenian are today usually explained as reflexes of word-initial laryngeal #h₁-, and the evidence is overwhelming that the geminated -νν- of Ancient Greek ἐννέα (ennéa) is of secondary development. The assumption that PIE had a quaternary system (base 4) or octal system (base 8) at some point in prehistory is supported with even less evidence.

Another theory (Blažek 1999:199) takes *h₁néwn̥ to be the accusative of an old primary noun *h₁enu- (“lack”) and thus related to *h₁new (“without”) (whence e.g. Greek ἄνευ (áneu), German ohne).

Numeral

cardinal number

9	Previous:	*oḱtṓw
	Next:	*déḱm̥

*h₁néwn̥

1. nine

Descendants

• Proto-Albanian: *neunti-
  • Albanian: nëntë
• Proto-Anatolian: *ʔnū́n
  • Lycian: 𐊏𐊒𐊏𐊗𐊀𐊗𐊀 (nuntata)
• Armenian:
  • Old Armenian: ինն (inn)
• Proto-Balto-Slavic: *newin
  • Eastern Baltic: *dewin
    • Latvian: deviņi
    • Latgalian: deveni
    • Lithuanian: devyni
  • Western Baltic:
    • Old Prussian: newīnjai
  • Proto-Slavic: *devętь (see there for further descendants)
• Proto-Celtic: *nawan
  • Gaulish: nau
  • Brythonic:
    • Breton: nav
    • Welsh: naw
  • Goidelic:
    • Old Irish: noí
      • Irish: naoi
      • Manx: nuy
      • Scottish Gaelic: naoi
• Proto-Germanic: *newun (see there for further descendants)
• Proto-Hellenic: *ennéwə
  • Ancient Greek: ἐννέα (ennéa)
    • Greek: εννέα (ennéa)
      • → Romani: enja
• Proto-Indo-Iranian: *Hnáwa (see there for further descendants)
• Proto-Italic: *nowem
  • Latin: novem (see there for further descendants)
  • Umbrian: 𐌍𐌖𐌅𐌉𐌌 (nuvim)
• Tocharian:
  • Tocharian A: ñu
  • Tocharian B: ñu

References

• 1991, Werner Winter, Some thoughts about IE numerals p. 13-14
• 1999, Václav Blažek, Numerals. Comparative-etymological analyses and their implications. Brno: Masarykova universita.
• Paleolexicon