Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/h₃dónts

This Proto-Indo-European 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-Indo-European

Alternative reconstructions

• *h₁dónts ~ *h₁dn̥tés
• *h₃dénts

Etymology

Ultimately an active participle of the root *h₃ed- (“to bite”) +‎ *-ónts (active participle suffix). This noun is usually reconstructed with the initial *h₁ and thus explained as active participle of the verb *h₁ed- (“to eat”). However, Aeolic ἔδοντες (édontes) appears to be a folk-etymological adaptation to ἔδω (édō), and the initial ἔ- (é-) is hence no evidence for *h₁-. Old Armenian ատամն (atamn) also points to *h₃-, as well as a prefixed Greek derivative νωδός (nōdós), which requires *n̥-h₃d- (where */h₃/ was regularly vocalized to ό in interconsonantal position).

Noun

*h₃dónts m (oblique stem *h₃dn̥t-)

1. tooth

   Synonym: *ǵómbʰos

Declension

Athematic, hysterokinetic
	singular
nominative	*h₃dónts
genitive	*h₃dn̥tés
	singular	dual	plural
nominative	*h₃dónts	*h₃dónth₁(e)	*h₃dóntes
vocative	*h₃dónt	*h₃dónth₁(e)	*h₃dóntes
accusative	*h₃dóntm̥	*h₃dónth₁(e)	*h₃dóntm̥s
genitive	*h₃dn̥tés	*?	*h₃dn̥tóHom
ablative	*h₃dn̥tés	*?	*h₃dn̥tmós, *h₃dn̥tbʰós
dative	*h₃dn̥téy	*?	*h₃dn̥tmós, *h₃dn̥tbʰós
locative	*h₃dónt, *h₃dónti	*?	*h₃dn̥tsú
instrumental	*h₃dn̥téh₁	*?	*h₃dn̥tmís, *h₃dn̥tbʰís

Derived terms

• *h₃dent-ós
  • Proto-Germanic: *tindaz (see there for further descendants)
• *h₃dént-ō ~ *h₃dn̥t-nés
  • Proto-Indo-Iranian: *Hdántā
    • Proto-Iranian: *Hdántā (see there for further descendants)
• *h₃dént-sneh₂ (root noun)
  • Proto-Balto-Slavic: *déntsnāˀ (see there for further descendants)
• *h₃dónt-o-s
  • Proto-Indo-Iranian: *Hdántas (see there for further descendants)

Descendants

• Proto-Armenian: *ataman
  • Old Armenian: ատամն (atamn)
    • Armenian: ատամ (atam)
• Proto-Balto-Slavic: *dantís (see there for further descendants)
• Proto-Balto-Slavic: *dentís (< *h₃dént-s) (see there for further descendants)
• Proto-Celtic: *dant (< *h₃dń̥t-) (see there for further descendants)
• Proto-Germanic: *tanþs (see there for further descendants)
  • ⇒ *tunþskaz (“canine tooth; tusk”) (see there for further descendants)
• Proto-Hellenic: *odónts (see there for further descendants)
• Proto-Indo-Iranian: *Hdáns (see there for further descendants)
• Proto-Italic: *dents (< *h₃dn̥t-) (see there for further descendants)