Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/walwǭ

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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"). (Can this⁽⁺⁾ etymology be sourced?)

Noun

*walwǭ f

(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

Descendants

Old Norse: vǫlva
- → Icelandic: völva (learned)
- → Faroese: vølva (learned)
- → Norwegian Nynorsk: volve, volva (learned)
- → Norwegian Bokmål: volve (learned)
- → Swedish: völva (learned); vala
- → Danish: vølve (learned)
- → English: völva (learned)