𐍆𐍂𐌹𐌿𐍃

Gothic

Etymology

Of unclear derivation. The formation is similar to Old Norse frør (“frost”), though this formation features the zero-grade of the root. Sturvevant proposed (according to Lehmann 1986) that it derives from an unattested adjective 𐍆𐍂𐌹𐌿𐍃 (frius, “very cold”). Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *prews- (“to freeze”)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈfriu̯s/

Noun

𐍆𐍂𐌹𐌿𐍃 • (frius) ?

2. (hapax) cold (low temperature)
   • 4th Century, Wulfila (tr.), Gothic Bible: Second Epistle to the Corinthians (Codex Ambrosianus B) 11.27:

     𐌰𐌲𐌻𐍉𐌼 𐌾𐌰𐌷 𐌰𐍂𐌱𐌰𐌹𐌳𐌹𐌼, 𐌹𐌽 𐍅𐍉𐌺𐌰𐌹𐌽𐌹𐌼 𐌿𐍆𐍄𐌰, 𐌹𐌽 𐌲𐍂𐌴𐌳𐌰𐌿 𐌾𐌰𐌷 𐌸𐌰𐌿𐍂𐍃𐍄𐌴𐌹𐌽, 𐌹𐌽 𐌻𐌰𐌿𐍃𐌵𐌹𐌸𐍂𐌴𐌹(𐌼) 𐌿𐍆𐍄𐌰, 𐌹𐌽 𐍆𐍂𐌹𐌿𐍃𐌰 𐌾𐌰𐌷 𐌽𐌰𐌵𐌰𐌳𐌴𐌹𐌽;

     aglōm jah arbaidim, in wōkainim ufta, in grēdau jah þaurstein, in lausqiþrei(m) ufta, in friusa jah naqadein;

     In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. (KJV).

Declension

Only attested in the dative singular 𐍆𐍂𐌹𐌿𐍃𐌰 (friusa); it may have been a masculine or neuter a-stem, or possibly a masculine i-stem. Lehmann (1986) hesitantly assumes a neuter a-stem.

See also

• 𐌺𐌰𐌻𐌳𐍃 (kalds, “cold”)
• 𐍅𐌰𐍂𐌼𐌾𐌰𐌽 (warmjan, “to warm”)

Further reading

• Lehmann, Winfred P. (1986) “F98. *frius”, in A Gothic Etymological Dictionary, based on the 3rd ed. of Feist’s dictionary, Leiden: E. J. Brill, page 129
• Streitberg, Wilhelm (1910). Die gotische Bibel. Zweiter Teil: Gotisch-griechisch-deutsches Wörterbuch. Heidelberg: Carl Winter’s Universitätsbuchhandlung, p. 39