Reconstruction:Proto-Celtic/sim

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

Schrijver splits his etymology of *sim into two pathways; one for the last elements of Old Irish sodain and Gaulish sosin, and the other pathway for other (anaphoric) uses.

• For the anaphoric uses and the initial element of *sindos:
  • Schrijver compares Sanskrit सीम् (sīm), which he derives from some case form of *h₁e with analogically inserted *s-.
  • Matasović takes a different tack, taking this *sin- to be from *sih₂m̥, which he understands to be the feminine accusative singular of *só.
• For the second element of Gaulish sosin and Old Irish sodain:
  • Schrijver starts with *tíd, which he believes to be the neuter singular of *só. *tíd would become *sim via analogical reshapings.
  • Schrijver believes in a fringe theory in which the nominative and accusative neuter *sod of *so (“this”) did not exist, and instead *sim would serve as the nominative and accusative neuter of *so. The existence of Celtiberian soz, which is usually believed to be a reflex of the very *sod that Schrijver does not think existed, poses trouble for his theory.

Pronoun

*sim

1. that

Usage notes

• No inflected forms of this word are known; it is an uninflected clitic in Goidelic.

Derived terms

• *sindos (if not from *sem-)
• *so sim
  • Gaulish: sosin
• *swe sim
  • Old Irish: féin
    • Irish: féin
• *swe de sim
  • Old Irish: fadéin

Descendants

• Old Irish: sin
  • Irish: sin
  • Scottish Gaelic: sin
  • Manx: shen