Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/-izô

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

Etymology

Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *-yōs

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /i.zɔːː/

Suffix

*-izô (adverb *-iz, superlative *-istaz)

  1. -er. Forms the comparative of certain adjectives.

Inflection

Declension of *-izô (an/īn-stem)
singular plural
masculine feminine neuter masculine feminine neuter
nominative *-izô *-izį̄ *-izô *-izaniz *-izīniz *-izōnō
accusative *-izanų *-izīnų *-izô *-izanunz *-izīnunz *-izōnō
genitive *-iziniz *-izīniz *-iziniz *-izanǫ̂ *-izīnǫ̂ *-izanǫ̂
dative *-izini *-izīni *-izini *-izammaz *-izīmaz *-izammaz
instrumental *-izinē *-izīnē *-izinē *-izammiz *-izīmiz *-izammiz

Usage notes

This was the normal comparative suffix for all i-, u- and ja-stem adjectives. The regular a-stem adjectives sometimes used this suffix, and sometimes the related suffix *-ōzô without any predictable rule.

Derived terms

Proto-Germanic comparative adjectives

Descendants

  • Proto-West Germanic: *-iʀō
    • Old English: -ra
      • Middle English: -ere, -er, -ore, -re
        • English: -er
        • Middle Scots: -ar, -ir
    • Old Frisian: -ere
    • Old Dutch: -iro, -ero
    • Old High German: -iro
      • Middle High German: -er
  • Old Norse: -ri
  • Gothic: -𐌹𐌶𐌰 (-iza)