Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/walwǭ

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

From *waluz (“staff”) +‎ *-ǭ (“feminine agent suffix”). Proto-Germanic terms regarding sorcery often involve spinning, rolling or encircling; compare *walwijaną ("to roll"). Also compare the name *Walubergō ("wand-saviour").

Noun

*walwǭ f

1. (North Germanic) a seeress; such women were revered and were said to be able to predict the future and harness magic; see *saidaz and *galdraz

   Synonym: *haidiz, *haljōrūnō

Inflection

ōn-stemDeclension of *walwǭ (ōn-stem)
	singular	plural
nominative	*walwǭ	*walwōniz
vocative	*walwǭ	*walwōniz
accusative	*walwōnų	*walwōnunz
genitive	*walwōniz	*walwōnǫ̂
dative	*walwōni	*walwōmaz
instrumental	*walwōnē	*walwōmiz

Derived terms

• *walwōniz spahō (“seeress' prophecy”)
  • Old Norse: Vǫluspá

Descendants

• Old Norse: vǫlva
  • → Icelandic: völva
  • → Faroese: vølva
  • → Norwegian Nynorsk: volve, volva
  • → Norwegian Bokmål: volve
  • → Swedish: völva, vala
  • → Danish: vølve
  • → English: völva