-ʼÉÉL

Etymology

From Proto-Athabaskan *ʔeˑtɬʼ ~ *ʊ̓ɬ (plural subjects float or swim).

Occurs in a very productive motion theme related to floating or sailing, but also occurs in a couple of unproductive bases related to the action of water (flush, sift, sweat, dissolve), and in a neuter theme (to droop or hang down).

Cognate root found in Ahtna ʼaetlʼ (plural subjects swim), with similar extended meanings, and in Lower Tanana 'atl.

Root

-ʼÉÉL

  1. to float
Theme Category Bases Transitive bases (O + ł)
motion

S floats

S sails, rows O

∅/ł ?

S dissolves

  • ńdíʼeeł

moisture soaks

S sweats

S dissolves O

  • ńdíʼeeł
ni + l adjectival

S droops

Stem set

Aspect Imperfective Perfective Future Iterative Optative
Momentaneous/Continuative -ʼeeł -ʼéél -ʼoł -ʼoł -ʼeeł
Continuative -ʼoł -ʼéél -ʼoł -ʼoł -ʼeeł
Cursive -ʼoł

See also Appendix: Roots and stems derivation.

Synonyms

action of water:

to float:

  • -DO (in the air)

Derived terms

References

  • Young, Robert; Morgan, William; Midgette, Sally (1992), Analytical lexicon of Navajo, Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, →ISBN, page 177