Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/-þaz

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

Alternative forms

  • *-daz (Verner alternant, default in past participles)
  • *-taz (following an obstruent)
  • *-saz (spirant following a dental consonant)

Etymology

From Proto-Indo-European *-tos and *-tós, derived from the original *-(∅)-tós (creating verbal adjectives) which operated only on zero-grade roots. Expanded in function during pre-Germanic to derive new adjectives from verbal roots in o-grade, though the exact function in such cases is unclear. Its eventual grammaticalization to a past participle marker has parallels in other Indo-European branches, such as Latin -tus and Proto-Slavic *-tъ.

Suffix

*-þaz

  1. (not productive) Derives some adjectives from roots.
  2. Marker of the past participle of weak verbs.

Inflection

Declension of *-þaz (a-stem)
Strong declension
singular plural
masculine feminine neuter masculine feminine neuter
nominative *-þaz *-þō *-þą, *-at(ō) *-þai *-þôz *-þō
accusative *-þanǭ *-þǭ *-þą, *-at(ō) *-þanz *-þōz *-þō
genitive *-þas, *-þis *-þaizōz *-þas, *-þis *-þaizǫ̂ *-þaizǫ̂ *-þaizǫ̂
dative *-þammai *-þaizōi *-þammai *-þaimaz *-þaimaz *-þaimaz
instrumental *-þanō *-þaizō *-þanō *-þaimiz *-þaimiz *-þaimiz
Weak declension
singular plural
masculine feminine neuter masculine feminine neuter
nominative *-þô *-þǭ *-þô *-þaniz *-þōniz *-þōnō
accusative *-þanų *-þōnų *-þô *-þanunz *-þōnunz *-þōnō
genitive *-þiniz *-þōniz *-þiniz *-þanǫ̂ *-þōnǫ̂ *-þanǫ̂
dative *-þini *-þōni *-þini *-þammaz *-þōmaz *-þammaz
instrumental *-þinē *-þōnē *-þinē *-þammiz *-þōmiz *-þammiz

Usage notes

The default form for past participles is *-daz, namely when following a stem vowel, as in the vast majority of cases.

Derived terms