Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/nīwalaz

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

Likely from earlier *nīgwala-, denominative adjective from pre-Germanic *nih₃kʷ- (looking down, facing down), compound of Proto-Indo-European *ní (down) and *h₃ekʷ- (to see). Compare Sanskrit नीच (nīca, below, down). For a similar formation, see Ancient Greek ὀπιπεύω (opipeúō) < *h₁opi-h₃kʷ-.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈniː.wɑ.lɑz/

Adjective

*nīwalaz

  1. lying down, prone, prostrate
  2. deep

Inflection

Declension of *nīwalaz (a-stem)
Strong declension
singular plural
masculine feminine neuter masculine feminine neuter
nominative *nīwalaz *nīwalō *nīwalą, -atō *nīwalai *nīwalôz *nīwalō
accusative *nīwalanǭ *nīwalǭ *nīwalą, -atō *nīwalanz *nīwalōz *nīwalō
genitive *nīwalas, -is *nīwalaizōz *nīwalas, -is *nīwalaizǫ̂ *nīwalaizǫ̂ *nīwalaizǫ̂
dative *nīwalammai *nīwalaizōi *nīwalammai *nīwalaimaz *nīwalaimaz *nīwalaimaz
instrumental *nīwalanō *nīwalaizō *nīwalanō *nīwalaimiz *nīwalaimiz *nīwalaimiz
Weak declension
singular plural
masculine feminine neuter masculine feminine neuter
nominative *nīwalô *nīwalǭ *nīwalô *nīwalaniz *nīwalōniz *nīwalōnō
accusative *nīwalanų *nīwalōnų *nīwalô *nīwalanunz *nīwalōnunz *nīwalōnō
genitive *nīwaliniz *nīwalōniz *nīwaliniz *nīwalanǫ̂ *nīwalōnǫ̂ *nīwalanǫ̂
dative *nīwalini *nīwalōni *nīwalini *nīwalammaz *nīwalōmaz *nīwalammaz
instrumental *nīwalinē *nīwalōnē *nīwalinē *nīwalammiz *nīwalōmiz *nīwalammiz

Descendants

  • Old English: neowol, nēol, nihol, niwol
  • Middle Low German: nigel, nule (adverb)
  • Middle Dutch: niel (adverb)

References

  • Mayrhofer, Manfred (1963) Kurzgefasstes Etymologisches Wörterbuch des Altindischen [A Concise Etymological Sanskrit Dictionary]‎[1] (in German), volume II, Heidelberg: Carl Winter Universitätsverlag, page 182