Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/smēhaz

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 reconstructions

• *smēhijaz (West Germanic)

Etymology

Apparently from a pre-Germanic form *smeh₁k-o-s, with no certain cognates outside of Germanic. The traditional comparison with Ancient Greek μῑκρός (mīkrós, “little, small”), traditionally derived from a Proto-Indo-European *(s)meyg-, *(s)mēyg- (“small, thin, delicate; to rub, smear”), is phonetically untenable, and the Greek is thought to be derived from a substrate, rendering the Germanic formation isolated.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈsmɛː.xɑz/

Adjective

*smēhaz

1. small; little

Inflection

Declension of *smēhaz (a-stem)

Strong declension
Case	Masculine		Feminine		Neuter
	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural
Nominative	*smēhaz	*smēhai	*smēhō	*smēhôz	*smēhą, -atō	*smēhō
Accusative	*smēhanǭ	*smēhanz	*smēhǭ	*smēhōz	*smēhą, -atō	*smēhō
Genitive	*smēhas, -is	*smēhaizǫ̂	*smēhaizōz	*smēhaizǫ̂	*smēhas, -is	*smēhaizǫ̂
Dative	*smēhammai	*smēhaimaz	*smēhaizōi	*smēhaimaz	*smēhammai	*smēhaimaz
Instrumental	*smēhanō	*smēhaimiz	*smēhaizō	*smēhaimiz	*smēhanō	*smēhaimiz
Weak declension
Case	Masculine		Feminine		Neuter
	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural
Nominative	*smēhô	*smēhaniz	*smēhǭ	*smēhōniz	*smēhô	*smēhōnō
Accusative	*smēhanų	*smēhanunz	*smēhōnų	*smēhōnunz	*smēhô	*smēhōnō
Genitive	*smēhiniz	*smēhanǫ̂	*smēhōniz	*smēhōnǫ̂	*smēhiniz	*smēhanǫ̂
Dative	*smēhini	*smēhammaz	*smēhōni	*smēhōmaz	*smēhini	*smēhammaz
Instrumental	*smēhinē	*smēhammiz	*smēhōnē	*smēhōmiz	*smēhinē	*smēhammiz

Derived terms

• *smēhōną

Descendants

• Proto-West Germanic: *smāh, *smāhī
  • Old Saxon: smāh
    • Middle Low German: smâ
      • ⇒ Middle Low German: smâlīk, smêlīk
      • ⇒ Middle Low German: smâwort
  • Old Dutch: smā
    • ⇒ Middle Dutch: smalike, smelike, smeelike, smalijc, smaliken
      • Dutch: (archaic) smalijk
        • →⇒ Swedish: smälek
  • Old High German: smāhi
    • Middle High German: smæhe
      • German: schmähe, schmäch
        • ⇒ German: schmächlich
      • ⇒ Middle High German: smæhelīche
        • German: schmählich
• Old Norse: smár
  • Icelandic: smár
  • Faroese: smáur
  • Norwegian: små
  • Old Swedish: smār
    • Swedish: små
  • Danish: små