Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/bainaz

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

Of disputed origin.

Orel prefers a derivation, based on the derivative *bainą (“leg, bone”) (< *bʰoy-no-m), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰoy-no-s, from *bʰeyh₂- (“to hit, strike, beat”), thus "a striking object" > "bone" > "straight like a bone".

Kroonen does not mention this theory, and tentatively prefers to take the word from Proto-Indo-European *bʰh₂-oy-no-, a no-formation from an i-present *bʰh₂-ey-, from *bʰeh₂- (“to shine”), with sense development "straight beam or ray (of light)" > "straight post or stake" > "straight leg, bone".

Bammesberger (1990) suggests a relationship to Latin fīnis (“limit, border, end”), which together with Germanic could point to a Proto-Indo-European n-stem *bʰeyH-n- (“straight line, pole”), though its root is unclear.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbɑi̯.nɑz/

Adjective

*bainaz(North Germanic)

1. straight, right
2. ready, willing

Inflection

Declension of *bainaz (a-stem, strong only)

Strong declension
	singular				plural
	masculine	feminine	neuter		masculine	feminine	neuter
nominative	*bainaz	*bainō	*bainą, *-at(ō)		*bainai	*bainôz	*bainō
accusative	*bainanǭ	*bainǭ	*bainą, *-at(ō)		*bainanz	*bainōz	*bainō
genitive	*bainas, *bainis	*bainaizōz	*bainas, *bainis		*bainaizǫ̂	*bainaizǫ̂	*bainaizǫ̂
dative	*bainammai	*bainaizōi	*bainammai		*bainaimaz	*bainaimaz	*bainaimaz
instrumental	*bainanō	*bainaizō	*bainanō		*bainaimiz	*bainaimiz	*bainaimiz

Derived terms

• *bainą

Descendants

• Old Norse: beinn
  • Icelandic: beinn
  • Faroese: beinur
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: bein
  • Norwegian Bokmål: ben, bein
  • Swedish: bena
  • Danish: ben
  • → Middle English: beyn, bayn, bayne, bain
    • Scots: bein, bien
    • English: bain