Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/alhs

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

Cognate with Lithuanian alkas, elkas (“sanctuary, grove”), Latvian elks (“idol”). Pokorny (p. 32) proposes a derivation from Proto-Indo-European *alk- (“sacred place, sanctuary; idol”) (= *h₂elk-), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂lek- (“to defend”), whence Ancient Greek ἀλέξω (aléxō, “defend, ward off”), Ancient Greek ἀλκή (alkḗ, “defence, help, strength”), Latin ulciscor (“avenge”). Kroonen, however, doubts this, adding that “[g]iven the root noun inflection, it is conceivable that the word was adopted from a local non-I[ndo-]E[uropean] language by Germanic and Baltic after their arrival in Europe” (2013:22 s.v. *alh-).

Noun

*alhs m[1]

  1. shelter; building
  2. temple; sanctuary
  3. settlement, residence

Inflection

Declension of *alhs (consonant stem)
singular plural
nominative *alhs *alhiz
vocative *alh *alhiz
accusative *alhų *alhunz
genitive *alhiz *alhǫ̂
dative *alhi *alhumaz
instrumental *alhē *alhumiz
  • *algōną

Descendants

  • Proto-West Germanic: *alh
    • Old English: ealh, alh, alhn
    • Old Saxon: alah
    • Old Dutch: *al
    • Old High German: alah
  • Proto-Norse: ᚨᛚᚺ (alh), ᚨᛚᚻ (alh) alh (runic inscription)
  • Gothic: 𐌰𐌻𐌷𐍃 (alhs)

References

  1. ^ Kroonen, Guus (2013) “*alh-”, in Etymological Dictionary of Proto-Germanic (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 11)‎[1], Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, page 22
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