Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/Nerþuz

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

Unknown. Possibly a derivative of Proto-Indo-European *h₂nḗr (“power, vitality, force”).[1] Compare Old Irish nert (“strength”), Sanskrit सूनृत (sūnṛtá, “pleasant”) (< *Hsu-Hnr̥tás), Old English (ġe-)neorð (“contented”); for the suffix, see *-þuz. More at Njörðr, Njörun, and Nerthus.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈner.θuz/

Proper noun

*Nerþuz f or m(chiefly North Germanic)

  1. A Germanic god or goddess:[2] Njord, Nerthus.

Inflection

Declension of *Nerþuz (u-stem)
singular
nominative *Nerþuz
vocative *Nerþu
accusative *Nerþų
genitive *Nerþauz
dative *Nirþiwi
instrumental *Nerþū

Reconstruction

The feminine gender and assumption of a goddess are based on Tacitus' description of the worship of a Mother Earth–like goddess "Nerthus", but why a goddess would have a masculine name with only masculine cognates is unclear. The u-stem of Old Norse is presumed original.

Descendants

  • Old Norse: Njǫrðr
    • Icelandic: Njörður
    • Faroese: Njørður
    • Norwegian Nynorsk: Njord; Njor (pronunciation spelling)
    • Swedish: Njärd, Njord
    • Danish: Njørd, Njord
    • → English: Njorth, Njord
  • → Latin: Nerthus

References

  1. ^ Vigfússon, Guðbrandur (1874). An Icelandic-English Dictionary: Based on the Ms. Collections of the Late Richard Cleasby
  2. ^ North, Richard (1997). Heathen Gods in Old English Literature
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