Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/-iz

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

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /iz/
• Rhymes: -iz

Etymology 1

From the zero-grade *-is- of Proto-Indo-European *-yes-, back-formed from weak inflections. Note that most case forms of an adjective can be functionally equivalent to an adverb.

Suffix

*-iz (adjective *-izô)

1. -er. Forms the comparative of certain adverbs.

Usage notes

This was the normal comparative suffix for all i-, u- and ja-stem adverbs. The regular a-stem adverbs sometimes used this suffix, and sometimes the related suffix *-ōz without any predictable rule.

Derived terms

Proto-Germanic comparative adverbs

Related terms

• *-istaz (superlative)

Descendants

Most of these descendants eventually replaced the suffix with the equivalent from the adjectives, because the older adverbial suffix was no longer distinctive after the loss of final *-iz.

• Old English: -
  • English: -er
• Old Frisian: -
  • West Frisian: -er
• Old Saxon: -
• Old Dutch: -
  • Middle Dutch: -
    • Dutch: -er
• Old High German: -
  • German: -er
• Old Norse: -r
  • Icelandic: -ur
  • Faroese: -ur
• Gothic: -𐌹𐍃 (-is)

Etymology 2

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Suffix

*-iz

1. Forms vṛddhi gerundives from verbal roots.

Derived terms

Proto-Germanic vrddhi gerundives

Etymology 3

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Suffix

*-iz (adjective suffix)

2. (forms attributive adjectives with the meaning of “X-ed” or “characterized by X”)

Inflection

Declension of *-iz (i-stem)

Strong declension
	singular				plural
	masculine	feminine	neuter		masculine	feminine	neuter
nominative	*-iz	*-ī	*-į, *-jatō		*-ijai	*-ijôz	*-ijō
accusative	*-ijanǭ	*-ijǭ	*-į, *-jatō		*-ijanz	*-ijōz	*-ijō
genitive	*-ijas, *-īs	*-ijaizōz	*-ijas, *-īs		*-ijaizǫ̂	*-ijaizǫ̂	*-ijaizǫ̂
dative	*-ijammai	*-ijaizōi	*-ijammai		*-ijaimaz	*-ijaimaz	*-ijaimaz
instrumental	*-ijanō	*-ijaizō	*-ijanō		*-ijaimiz	*-ijaimiz	*-ijaimiz
Weak declension
	singular				plural
	masculine	feminine	neuter		masculine	feminine	neuter
nominative	*-ijô	*-ijǭ	*-ijô		*-ijaniz	*-ijōniz	*-ijōnō
accusative	*-ijanų	*-ijōnų	*-ijô		*-ijanunz	*-ijōnunz	*-ijōnō
genitive	*-īniz	*-ijōniz	*-īniz		*-ijanǫ̂	*-ijōnǫ̂	*-ijanǫ̂
dative	*-īni	*-ijōni	*-īni		*-ijammaz	*-ijōmaz	*-ijammaz
instrumental	*-īnē	*-ijōnē	*-īnē		*-ijammiz	*-ijōmiz	*-ijammiz

Descendants

• Proto-West Germanic: *-ī (merged with *-jaz and *-ijaz)
  • Old English: -e
• Proto-Norse: -ᛁᛉ (-iʀ)
  • Old Norse: -r (fossilized, with i-umlaut)