Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/dáḱru

This Proto-Indo-European 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-Indo-European

Alternative forms

• *dr̥ḱ-h₂éḱru, *dr̥ḱ-h₂éḱ-wr̥^?
• *dr̥h₂éḱru, *dr̥h₂éḱwr̥^?
• *dráḱru, *dráḱwr̥^?, dráḱr̥^?
• *dáḱr-o-m (Celto-Germanic)

Etymology

Linked to *h₂éḱru in some way, but the derivation is unclear. One possibility is that it is a contraction from earlier *dh₂éḱru, from the compound *dr̥ḱ-h₂éḱru (“eye-bitter”). This hypothesis explains the Old Armenian reflexes and Proto-Germanic *trahnuz well, but creates other questions. Even aside from the lack of known phonological parallels to such a contraction, it is unclear why the root *derḱ- was used rather than the main word for “eye” in Proto-Indo-European, *h₃ókʷs, though C.J. Ruijgh suggests that the semantic distinction was a meaning “fixed eye” for the former.

This etymology is incomplete. You can help Wiktionary by elaborating on the origins of this term.

Noun

*dáḱru

1. tear (in the eyes)

Inflection

Athematic, proterokinetic
	singular
nominative	*dáḱru
genitive	*dḱréws
	singular	dual	plural
nominative	*dáḱru	*dáḱr̥wih₁	*dáḱruh₂
vocative	*dáḱru	*dáḱr̥wih₁	*dáḱruh₂
accusative	*dáḱru	*dáḱr̥wih₁	*dáḱruh₂
genitive	*dḱréws	*?	*dḱréwoHom
ablative	*dḱréws	*?	*dḱrúmos
dative	*dḱréwey	*?	*dḱrúmos
locative	*dḱréw, *dḱréwi	*?	*dḱrúsu
instrumental	*dḱrúh₁	*?	*dḱrúmis

Reconstruction notes

The Germanic n-stems can be interpreted as evidence of an original heteroclitic declension; see more at *h₂éḱru.

Synonyms

• *h₂éḱru

Descendants

• Proto-Armenian:
  • Old Armenian: արտաւսր (artawsr, “tear”) (< *draḱru-)
  • Old Armenian: արտասուք (artasukʻ, “tears”) (< *draḱu-)
    • Armenian: արտասուք (artasukʻ), արցունք (arcʻunkʻ)
• Proto-Celtic: *dakrom (< *dáḱr-o-m)
  • Proto-Brythonic: *dagr
    • Cornish: dagr
  • Old Irish: dér, dǽr
    • Middle Irish: dér f
      • Irish: deoir
      • Scottish Gaelic: deur
      • Manx: jeir
• Proto-Celtic: *dakrū (plural or collective) < *dáḱruh₂ pl
  • Proto-Brythonic: *dėgr
    • Middle Welsh: deigyr
      • Welsh: deigr (archaic)
        • ⇒ Welsh: deigryn
• Proto-Germanic: *tahrą (< *dáḱr-o-m) (see there for further descendants)
• Proto-Germanic: *trahnuz (< *dráḱ-nu-s)
• Proto-Hellenic:
  • Ancient Greek: δάκρυ (dákru), δάκρυον (dákruon)
    • Greek: δάκρυ (dákry)
    • → English: dacryo-
• ⇒ Proto-Italic: (+ *-meh₂)
  • Old Latin: dacruma, dacrima
    • Latin: lacruma, lacrima (see there for further descendants)