Reconstruction:Proto-Yoruboid/é-gwṹ

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This Proto-Yoruboid 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-Yoruboid

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Etymology

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From *é- (nominalizing prefix) +‎ *gwṹ (to die; kill). The root *gwṹ almost certainly relates to die or kill, and likely related to Proto-Yoruboid *kú, see there for cognates. Cognate Proto-Volta-Niger *kú, ultimately from Proto-Atlantic-Congo. Within Volta-Niger languages, see Fon , Ewe *kuku, (Proto-Gbe *kú), amongs others. Doublet of *ò-gwṹ and more distantly, Doublet of *ò-kú.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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*é-gwṹ

  1. corpse, dead body

Proper noun

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*é-gwṹ

  1. ancestral spirit; masked or costumed figure (Egungun) that represent ancestors

Descendants

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  • Igala: égwú, Égwú
  • Yoruba: Eégún, Egúngún
  • Ekiti Yoruba: Egígún