Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/swangaz

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

  • *swangwaz

Etymology

Perhaps an adjectival formation related to *swinganą (to swing),[1] referring to the "curved or swung-in shape" and "easily swingable" nature of slender beings.

Adjective

*swangaz

  1. thin, slender, slim
  2. wavering

Inflection

Declension of *swangaz (a-stem)
Strong declension
singular plural
masculine feminine neuter masculine feminine neuter
nominative *swangaz *swangō *swangą, -atō *swangai *swangôz *swangō
accusative *swanganǭ *swangǭ *swangą, -atō *swanganz *swangōz *swangō
genitive *swangas, -is *swangaizōz *swangas, -is *swangaizǫ̂ *swangaizǫ̂ *swangaizǫ̂
dative *swangammai *swangaizōi *swangammai *swangaimaz *swangaimaz *swangaimaz
instrumental *swanganō *swangaizō *swanganō *swangaimiz *swangaimiz *swangaimiz
Weak declension
singular plural
masculine feminine neuter masculine feminine neuter
nominative *swangô *swangǭ *swangô *swanganiz *swangōniz *swangōnō
accusative *swanganų *swangōnų *swangô *swanganunz *swangōnunz *swangōnō
genitive *swanginiz *swangōniz *swanginiz *swanganǫ̂ *swangōnǫ̂ *swanganǫ̂
dative *swangini *swangōni *swangini *swangammaz *swangōmaz *swangammaz
instrumental *swanginē *swangōnē *swanginē *swangammiz *swangōmiz *swangammiz

Descendants

  • Proto-West Germanic:
    • Old Saxon:
      • Middle Low German: swank (unstable, wavering)
    • Old High German:
      • Middle High German: swanc (unstable, wavering)
  • Old Norse: svangr
    • Icelandic: svangur
    • Faroese: svangur
    • Norwegian Nynorsk: svang; (dialectal) svang’u, svång’e
    • Swedish: (dialectal) svong

References

  1. ^ Vladimir Orel (2003) “*swanʒwaz”, in A Handbook of Germanic Etymology[1], Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, page 391