Reconstruction:Proto-Semitic/-ay-

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

Likely cognate with Proto-Berber *-e.

Suffix

*-ay- f

  1. Used to create feminine forms of certain words.

Inflection

Declension of *-ay-
case singular dual plural
nominative *-ayum *-ayāna plural stem + *-ūna
accusative *-ayam *-ayayna plural stem + *-īna
genitive *-ayim
possessive forms
1st person *-ayī / *-ayVya — *-ayVni
2nd person m *-ayVka *-ayVkumā / *-ayVkumay *-ayVkum(ū)
2nd person f *-ayVki *-ayVkin(ā)
3rd person m *-ayVšu *-ayVšumā / *-ayVšumay *-ayVšum(ū)
3rd person f *-ayVša *-ayVšin(ā)

the endings -m and -na are dropped in the bound form, which may also undergo syncopation of an unstressed final vowel where possible. Note: the ending -V before the possessive endings responds to case: *-ayuya for nom. case, *-ayiya for gen. case, *-ayaya for acc. case, etc.

See also

Descendants

Used to form the feminine of *ʕašt- (“one”); see feminine descendants there for some unproductive descendants.

Productive descendants:

  • West Semitic:
    • Central Semitic:
      • Arabic: ـَى (-ā)
      • Northwest Semitic:
        • Aramaic:
          • Classical Syriac: ـܰܝܳܐ (-ayā)
    • Ethiopian Semitic:
      • Ge'ez: -e

References

  • van Putten, Marijn (2018), "The feminine endings *-ay and *-āy in Semitic and Berber", Bulletin of SOAS 81:2, p. 205–225.
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