Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/nīwalaz

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

Likely from earlier *nīgwala-, denominative adjective from pre-Germanic *nih₃kʷ- (“looking down, facing down”), compound of Proto-Indo-European *ni (“down”) and *h₃ekʷ- (“to see”). Compare Sanskrit नीच (nīca, “below, down”). For a similar formation, see Ancient Greek ὀπιπεύω (opipeúō) < *h₁opi-h₃kʷ-.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈniː.wɑ.lɑz/

Adjective

*nīwalaz

1. lying down, prone, prostrate
2. deep

Inflection

Declension of *nīwalaz (a-stem)

Strong declension
Case	Masculine		Feminine		Neuter
	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural
Nominative	*nīwalaz	*nīwalai	*nīwalō	*nīwalôz	*nīwalą, -atō	*nīwalō
Accusative	*nīwalanǭ	*nīwalanz	*nīwalǭ	*nīwalōz	*nīwalą, -atō	*nīwalō
Genitive	*nīwalas, -is	*nīwalaizǫ̂	*nīwalaizōz	*nīwalaizǫ̂	*nīwalas, -is	*nīwalaizǫ̂
Dative	*nīwalammai	*nīwalaimaz	*nīwalaizōi	*nīwalaimaz	*nīwalammai	*nīwalaimaz
Instrumental	*nīwalanō	*nīwalaimiz	*nīwalaizō	*nīwalaimiz	*nīwalanō	*nīwalaimiz
Weak declension
Case	Masculine		Feminine		Neuter
	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural
Nominative	*nīwalô	*nīwalaniz	*nīwalǭ	*nīwalōniz	*nīwalô	*nīwalōnō
Accusative	*nīwalanų	*nīwalanunz	*nīwalōnų	*nīwalōnunz	*nīwalô	*nīwalōnō
Genitive	*nīwaliniz	*nīwalanǫ̂	*nīwalōniz	*nīwalōnǫ̂	*nīwaliniz	*nīwalanǫ̂
Dative	*nīwalini	*nīwalammaz	*nīwalōni	*nīwalōmaz	*nīwalini	*nīwalammaz
Instrumental	*nīwalinē	*nīwalammiz	*nīwalōnē	*nīwalōmiz	*nīwalinē	*nīwalammiz

Descendants

• Old English: neowol, nēol, nihol, niwol
  • Middle English: neall
• Middle Low German: nigel, nule (adverb)
• Middle Dutch: niel (adverb)

References

• Mayrhofer, Manfred (1963) Kurzgefasstes Etymologisches Wörterbuch des Altindischen [A Concise Etymological Sanskrit Dictionary] (in German), volume II, Heidelberg: Carl Winter Universitätsverlag, page 182