Reconstruction:Proto-Semitic/-b

This Proto-Semitic 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-Semitic

Etymology 1

From Proto-Afroasiatic *-b.

Suffix

*-b

Nominal class suffix pertaining to harmful animals

Derived terms

*ʕaḳrab- (“scorpion”)
*ʕankab(īṯ)- (“spider”)
*ʔarnab- (“hare”)
*ʔirb- (“locust”)
*ḏiʔb- (“wolf”)
*ḏubab- (“fly”)
*dubb- (“bear”)
*ḡurayb- (“raven”) (possibly)
*labiʔ- (“lion”) (uncertain)
*kalb- (“dog”)
*ṣ́abb- (“kind of lizard”)
*ṣ́abuʕ- (“hyena”) (uncertain)
*ṯaʕlab- (“fox”)

Etymology 2

From Proto-Afroasiatic *-b.

Suffix

*-b

Nominal class suffix pertaining to body parts

Derived terms

*ḏanab- (“tail”)
*ganb- (“back”)
*ḥalīb- (“fat”)
*libb- (“heart”)

References

Diakonoff, Igor M. (1988) Afrasian Languages (Languages of Asia and Africa), Moscow: Nauka, page 57.
Ehret, C. (1995). Reconstructing Proto-Afroasiatic (Proto-Afrasian) vowels, tones, consonants, and vocabulary. University of California Publications. Page 18.