Reconstruction:Proto-Slavic/větъ

This Proto-Slavic 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-Slavic

Etymology

Comparison with Baltic data Lithuanian vaiténti (“to discuss”), Old Prussian waitiāt (“to talk”) points towards a possible origin from *weh₁y- (“to seek truth”) +‎ *-tós, an extension of *weh₁- (“truth”). Cognates outside Balto-Slavic with similar meanings include Avestan vaēθa (“judicial decision”). It should be pointed that the same root also meant to turn. This is the origin of proto-Slavic *viti (“to curl, to twist”). It is possible, as suggested by Vasmer, that the O-grade of this verb was used figuratively to denote conversation.

Noun

*větъ m

1. talk, agreement

Declension

Declension of *větъ (hard o-stem)

	singular	dual	plural
nominative	*větъ	*věta	*věti
genitive	*věta	*větu	*větъ
dative	*větu	*větoma	*větomъ
accusative	*větъ	*věta	*věty
instrumental	*větъmь, *větomь*	*větoma	*věty
locative	*větě	*větu	*větěxъ
vocative	*věte	*věta	*věti

^* -ъmь in North Slavic, -omь in South Slavic.

Derived terms

• *jьzvětъ (“report”)
• *otъvětъ (“respond”)
• *uvětъ (“term (in contract)”)
• *privětъ (“salute”)
  • *privětьstvьje (“greeting”)
  • *privětьnъ (“welcoming, hospitable”)
• *obětъ (“promise”) (from an earlier *obvětъ)
  • *oběťanьje (“pledge”)
• *sъvětъ (“advice”)
  • *sъvěťanьje (“consultation”)
• *zavětъ (“covenant”)
  • *zavěťanьje (“will, testament”)

Related terms

• *věťati (“to converse, to predict”)

Descendants

• East Slavic: вѣтъ (větŭ)
• South Slavic:
  • Old Church Slavonic: вѣтъ (větŭ)

References

• Vasmer, Max (1964–1973) “вет”, in Oleg Trubachyov, transl., Этимологический словарь русского языка [Etymological Dictionary of the Russian Language] (in Russian), Moscow: Progress
• Template:R:ine:Roberts