Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/limuz

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

Alternative forms

• *līmuz

Etymology

Probably from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning “to bend, skew”, but which root in particular is uncertain: possibilities include *h₂el- (extended as *h₂l-ey-), *Heh₃l- (extended as *(H)h₃l-ey-), and *leyH-. (Can this⁽⁺⁾ etymology be sourced?) Perhaps cognate with Latin līmus (“askew”), but with a slightly different derivation, and/or Lithuanian liemuõ (“log, torso”) (the latter for which Kroonen reconstructs *ley- as the base Indo-European root). Also compare *liþuz (“joint, bend, limb”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈli.muz/

Noun

*limuz m

1. (anatomy) limb; member

   Synonym: *liþuz

2. (of a tree) branch; twig

   Synonyms: *astaz, *telguz, *tōgô, *twīgą

Inflection

u-stemDeclension of *limuz (u-stem)
	singular	plural
nominative	*limuz	*limiwiz
vocative	*limu	*limiwiz
accusative	*limų	*limunz
genitive	*limauz	*limiwǫ̂
dative	*limiwi	*limumaz
instrumental	*limū	*limumiz

Related terms

• *līmô
• *liþuz

Descendants

• Proto-West Germanic: *limu
  • Old English: lim, lym n
    • Middle English: lyme, lim
      • Scots: lim, lym
      • English: limb
  • Old Saxon: *limu, *lim
    • Middle Low German: lem n (“limb”) (possibly borrowed from Scandinavian)
  • Old Dutch: *limu
    • Middle Dutch: lēme (“fishbone, stubble of flax”)
      • Dutch: leem (“pine needle”)
    • ⇒ Old Dutch: druhtlimig
• Old Norse: limr m; lim f; lim n
  • Icelandic: limur
  • Faroese: limur
  • Norwegian Bokmål: lem
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: lem
  • Old Swedish: limber
    • Swedish: lem
  • Danish: lem