Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/alhs
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Proto-Germanic
[edit]Etymology
[edit]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
[edit]*alhs m[1]
Inflection
[edit]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
[edit]Descendants
[edit]- Proto-West Germanic: *alh
- Proto-Norse: ᚨᛚᚺ (alh), ᚨᛚᚻ (alh) alh (runic inscription)
- Gothic: 𐌰𐌻𐌷𐍃 (alhs)