Reconstruction:Proto-Celtic/oβnus

This Proto-Celtic 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-Celtic

Etymology

Uncertain.

According to Matasović, possibly related to Proto-Slavic *ęga (“to shiver”), assuming the root to be Proto-Indo-European *h₁engʷ-, though this root is usually reconstructed as *h₁eng- on the basis of Proto-Germanic *inkô (“ache, regret”).

Or, from *h₂enǵʰ- (“to constrict, tighten”); see the cognates listed at Latvian īgt (“to be angry”).

An alternative theory links the root to Proto-Indo-European *pow- (“to fear”), to which Proto-Italic *pawēō (“to be afraid”) may also belong.

Noun

*oβnus m

1. fear

Declension

Masculine/feminine u-stem
	singular	dual	plural
nominative	*obnus	*obnū	*obnowes
vocative	*obnu	*obnū	*obnūs
accusative	*obnum	*obnū	*obnuns
genitive	*obnous	*obnous	*obnowom
dative	*obnou	*obnubom	*obnubos
locative	*?	*?	*?
instrumental	*obnū	*obnubim	*obnubis

Alternative reconstructions

• *oβnos

Derived terms

• *exsoβnos

Descendants

• Proto-Brythonic: *oβn
  • Middle Breton: oun
    • Breton: ovn
  • Cornish: own
  • Middle Welsh: ofuyn
    • Welsh: ofn
• Old Irish: ómun, omun, homun (with short vowel)
  • Middle Irish: úaman, oman
    • Irish: uamhan
    • Scottish Gaelic: uabhann