-CHʼIL

See also: chʼil and -chʼil

Etymology

Probably from Proto-Athabaskan *tšʷ’ə̓tɬ’ (to shrivel), with multiple extended meanings, or alternatively from Proto-Athabaskan *tšʼʳǝ̓tɬʼ (underbrush, bushes; small willow trees).[1] In the case of the latter, perhaps distantly cognate with Ket дәльт (dɤ̄ˑlʲt, purple willow).

Cognate roots found in Ahtna tsʼetlʼ (to close the eyes, pop), Koyukon tsʼetł (shrubs, small willows), Gwich'in diltrʼal (fire crackled), niltrʼal (he had his eyes closed), trʼał (brush, undergrowth).

Root

-CHʼIL

  1. to curl, to shrivel

Theme Category Bases Transitive bases (O + ł)
l adjectival

S is curly

l motion

S curls, peels off

S curls O

  • yiiłchʼííł (TRANS)
  • yiʼniiłchʼííł
  • neiłchʼil (CONT)
conversive

S is undercooked

S undercooks O, shrivels O by heat

ni + l successive

S closes eyes, blinks

  2. fire crackles

Theme Category Bases Transitive bases (O + ł)
di + l ? burning wood crackles
ʼa + di + l ?

lightning strikes

  3. plant

Theme Category Bases Transitive bases (O + ł)
di + ł adjectival

S is dense, brushy

Stem set

Aspect Imperfective Perfective Future Iterative Optative
Momentaneous -chʼííł -chʼil -chʼił -chʼił -chʼííł
Transitional -chʼííł -chʼiil -chʼił -chʼił -chʼííł
Continuative -chʼiił -chʼil -chʼił -chʼił -chʼiił
CONT / CONCL -chʼil -chʼil -chʼił -chʼił -chʼil
Repetitive -chʼił
Semelfactive -chʼił -chʼił -chʼił -chʼił -chʼił
NEUTER -chʼil

See also Appendix: Roots and stems derivation.

Synonyms

to curl:

 

to blink:

lightning strikes:

Derived terms

Navajo terms belonging to the root -CHʼIL (lightning)
Navajo terms belonging to the root -CHʼIL (plant)

References

  1. ^ Leer, Jeff (1996), Comparative Athabaskan Lexicon[1], volume tsh(r)1a-tsh(r)1E, Alaska Native Language Archive, page 48