Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/maganą

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 reconstructions

  • *muganą, *mage (3sg.), *mugunþ (3pl.)[1]
  • *magą[2]

Etymology

From Proto-Indo-European *(me)mógʰe, from *megʰ-. Cognate with Proto-Slavic *moťi.[1]

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈmɑ.ɣɑ.nɑ̃/

Verb

*maganą

  1. to be able, may

Inflection

Conjugation of (preterite-present)
active voice passive voice
present tense indicative subjunctive imperative indicative subjunctive
1st singular *mag *magį̄
2nd singular *maht *magīz
3rd singular *mag *magī
1st dual *magū *magīw
2nd dual *magudiz *magīdiz
1st plural *magum *magīm
2nd plural *magud *magīd
3rd plural *magun *magīn
past tense indicative subjunctive
1st singular *mahtǭ *mahtēdį̄
2nd singular *mahtēz *mahtēdīz
3rd singular *mahtē *mahtēdī
1st dual *mahtēdū *mahtēdīw
2nd dual *mahtēdudiz *mahtēdīdiz
1st plural *mahtēdum *mahtēdīm
2nd plural *mahtēdud *mahtēdīd
3rd plural *mahtēdun *mahtēdīn
present past
participles *magandz *mahtaz

Usage notes

The main distinction between *kunnaną and *maganą is that the former deals with one's own capabilities, whereas the latter indicates ability due to favourable circumstances not under one's control.

Derived terms

Descendants

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Kroonen, Guus (2013) “*mugan-”, in Etymological Dictionary of Proto-Germanic (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 11)‎[1], Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, page 373
  2. ^ Vladimir Orel (2003) “*maʒa”, in A Handbook of Germanic Etymology[2], Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, page 252