Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/-istaz

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

    From Proto-Indo-European *-istHos, from *-yōs (relative suffix) +‎ *-tHós (adjectival suffix).[1][2] Cognate with Ancient Greek -ιστος (-istos), Proto-Indo-Iranian *-ištʰas.

    Pronunciation

    • IPA(key): /is.tɑz/

    Suffix

    *-istaz (adverb *-ist, comparative *-izô)

    1. -est. Forms the superlative of certain adjectives.

    Usage notes

    This was the normal superlative suffix for all i-, u- and ja-stem adjectives. The regular a-stem adjectives sometimes used this suffix, and sometimes the related suffix *-ōstaz without any predictable rule.

    Inflection

    Declension of *-istaz (a-stem)
    Strong declension
    singular plural
    masculine feminine neuter masculine feminine neuter
    nominative *-istaz *-istō *-istą, *-at(ō) *-istai *-istôz *-istō
    accusative *-istanǭ *-istǭ *-istą, *-at(ō) *-istanz *-istōz *-istō
    genitive *-istas, *-istis *-istaizōz *-istas, *-istis *-istaizǫ̂ *-istaizǫ̂ *-istaizǫ̂
    dative *-istammai *-istaizōi *-istammai *-istaimaz *-istaimaz *-istaimaz
    instrumental *-istanō *-istaizō *-istanō *-istaimiz *-istaimiz *-istaimiz
    Weak declension
    singular plural
    masculine feminine neuter masculine feminine neuter
    nominative *-istô *-istǭ *-istô *-istaniz *-istōniz *-istōnō
    accusative *-istanų *-istōnų *-istô *-istanunz *-istōnunz *-istōnō
    genitive *-istiniz *-istōniz *-istiniz *-istanǫ̂ *-istōnǫ̂ *-istanǫ̂
    dative *-istini *-istōni *-istini *-istammaz *-istōmaz *-istammaz
    instrumental *-istinē *-istōnē *-istinē *-istammiz *-istōmiz *-istammiz

    Synonyms

    Derived terms

    Proto-Germanic superlative adjectives

    Descendants

    • Proto-West Germanic: *-ist
      • Old English: -est
        • Middle English: -est
          • English: -est
          • Scots: -est
      • Old Frisian: -st
        • Saterland Frisian: -st
        • West Frisian: -st
      • Old Saxon: -est, -ist
        • Middle Low German: -est
          • German Low German: -st
      • Old Dutch: -ist
      • Old High German: -ist
        • Middle High German: -est
    • Old Norse: -str
      • Icelandic: -stur
      • Faroese: -stur
      • Norwegian: -st
      • Old Swedish: -ster
      • Danish: -st
    • Gothic: -𐌹𐍃𐍄𐍃 (-ists)

    References

    1. ^ Beekes, Robert S. P. (2011), Comparative Indo-European Linguistics: An Introduction, 2nd edition, revised and corrected by Michiel de Vaan, Amsterdam, Philadelphia: John Benjamins Publishing Company, page 221
    2. ^ Ringe, Donald (2006), From Proto-Indo-European to Proto-Germanic (A Linguistic History of English; 1)‎[1], Oxford: Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 284