dlen

Ahtna

Etymology 1

Back-formation from ldleni (“key”).

Root

dlen (Mentasta)

1. to lock, be locked

Stem set

Aspect	Imperfective	Perfective	Future	Optative
Neuter	dlen	dliinʼ	dliił	dliinʼ
Momentaneous	dliinʼ	dliinʼ	dliił	dliinʼ

Derived terms

• cʼeldlen (“it is locked”)
• uʼeł danacneldliisi (“lock”)

Etymology 2

From Proto-Athabaskan *dləŋ. Cognate with Lower Tanana dlen (“to be steep”).

Root

dlen

1. to be steep, at a sharp angle

Stem set

Aspect	Imperfective	Perfective	Future	Optative
Neuter	dlen	dliinʼ	dliił	dliinʼ
Transitional	—	dliinʼ	—	—

Derived terms

• hwtnedlen (“it is steep”)
• naktnadlen (“it is steep going down”)

References

• Kari, James (1990), Ahtna Athabaskan Dictionary, Fairbanks, Alaska: Alaska Native Language Center, →ISBN, page 162