Reconstruction:Proto-Brythonic/gwoɨθhaβ̃

This Proto-Brythonic 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-Brythonic

Etymology

From *gwoɨθ (“worse”) +‎ *-haβ̃ (superlative suffix). Alternatively from Proto-Celtic *uɸoɸedisamos, from *uɸo- +‎ *ɸedisamos, from Proto-Indo-European *ped-ism̥mós, from *ped- (“to walk, fall, stumble”) +‎ *-is(t)m̥mós (superlative suffix), and cognate with Latin pessimus (“worst”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɡwaɨ̯θˈhaːβ̃/

Adjective

*gwoɨθhaβ̃

1. superlative degree of *gwoɨl (“bad”): worst

Descendants

• Middle Breton: goazhaff
  • Breton: gwashañ
• Cornish: gwetha
• Middle Welsh: gwaethaf
  • Welsh: gwaethaf

Further reading

• Matasović, Ranko (2009) “*waxto-”, in Etymological Dictionary of Proto-Celtic (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 9), Leiden: Brill, →ISBN, page 405
• Schrijver, Peter C. H. (1995) Studies in British Celtic historical phonology (Leiden studies in Indo-European; 5), Amsterdam, Atlanta: Rodopi, page 132