Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/ga-
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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
[edit]Alternative forms
[edit]Etymology
[edit]From Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm (“with, near, by, along”). Cognate with Latin co-, con-, prefix forms of cum (“with”). The irregular change from expected **ha- to *ga- is probably due to either due to influence from Proto-Indo-European *gʰo- or the original prefix itself being considered "unstressed" by Germanic speakers, which would activate Verner's law and cause the shift (Compare *uz).[1]
Prefix
[edit]*ga-
- Indicates association or togetherness; co-.
- Indicates completeness or wholeness. In verbs, also indicates perfectivity (a finished action). In nouns, expresses intensive or perfective meaning.
Derived terms
[edit]Descendants
[edit]In Old Norse, *ga- only survives as a fossil in a few words. Its semantic function was, however, retained perfectly by the particle of.
- Proto-West Germanic: *ga-
- Old Norse: g- (non-productive)
- Gothic: 𐌲𐌰- (ga-)
- Vandalic: *ga-