Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/arjaz

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

From Proto-Indo-European *h₂eryos. Cognate with Sanskrit आर्य (ārya, “kind, hospitable”), Proto-Celtic *aryos (“nobleman, free man”).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈɑr.jɑz/

Adjective

*arjaz (comparative *arjōzô, superlative *arjōstaz)

distinguished, esteemed

Inflection

Declension of *arjaz (ja-stem)
Strong declension
	singular			plural
	masculine	feminine	neuter	masculine	feminine	neuter
nominative	*arjaz	*arjō	*arją, -atō	*arjai	*arjôz	*arjō
accusative	*arjanǭ	*arjǭ	*arją, -atō	*arjanz	*arjōz	*arjō
genitive	*arjas, -is	*arjaizōz	*arjas, -is	*arjaizǫ̂	*arjaizǫ̂	*arjaizǫ̂
dative	*arjammai	*arjaizōi	*arjammai	*arjaimaz	*arjaimaz	*arjaimaz
instrumental	*arjanō	*arjaizō	*arjanō	*arjaimiz	*arjaimiz	*arjaimiz

Weak declension
	singular			plural
	masculine	feminine	neuter	masculine	feminine	neuter
nominative	*arjô	*arjǭ	*arjô	*arjaniz	*arjōniz	*arjōnō
accusative	*arjanų	*arjōnų	*arjô	*arjanunz	*arjōnunz	*arjōnō
genitive	*ariniz	*arjōniz	*ariniz	*arjanǫ̂	*arjōnǫ̂	*arjanǫ̂
dative	*arini	*arjōni	*arini	*arjammaz	*arjōmaz	*arjammaz
instrumental	*arinē	*arjōnē	*arinē	*arjammiz	*arjōmiz	*arjammiz

Descendants

The positive form is not attested in any of the daughter languages, but might exist in some personal names, such as the first element in Ariovistus.

The superlative is attested, the meaning and form of which is debated, but generally given as meaning "most distinguished". The nominative plural ending *-ᛖᛉ (*-eʀ) is explained (by Boutkan among others) as Proto-Germanic *-ai > Northwest Germanic *-ē + *-z, and is the ancestor of Old Norse masculine nominative plural -ir.

Proto-West Germanic: *ari
Proto-Norse: *ᚨᚱᛃᚨᛉ (*arjaʀ) (attested in ᚨᚱᛃᛟᛊᛏᛖᛉ (arjosteʀ))
- Old Norse: *err
Gothic: *𐌰𐍂𐌾𐌹𐍃 (*arjis)