Reconstruction:Proto-Semitic/ṯaʕlab-

This Proto-Semitic 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-Semitic

Noun

*ṯaʕlab- m

fox

Inflection

Declension of *ṯaʕlab-

Case

Singular

Dual

Plural

Nominative

*ṯaʕlabum

*ṯaʕlabāna

plural stem + *-ūna

Genitive

*ṯaʕlabim

*ṯaʕlabayna

plural stem + *-īna

Accusative

*ṯaʕlabam

possessive forms

1st person

*ṯaʕlabī / *ṯaʕlabVya

—

*ṯaʕlabVni

2nd person m

*ṯaʕlabVka

*ṯaʕlabVkumā / *ṯaʕlabVkumay

*ṯaʕlabVkum(ū)

2nd person f

*ṯaʕlabVki

*ṯaʕlabVkin(ā)

3rd person m

*ṯaʕlabVšu

*ṯaʕlabVšumā / *ṯaʕlabVšumay

*ṯaʕlabVšum(ū)

3rd person f

*ṯaʕlabVša

*ṯaʕlabVšin(ā)

Note: the endings -m and -na are dropped in the bound form, which may also undergo syncopation of an unstressed final vowel where possible.

Note: the ending -V before the possessive endings responds to case: *ṯaʕlabuya for nom. case, *ṯaʕlabiya for gen. case, *ṯaʕlabaya for acc. case, etc.

Declension of 2sg m. possessive form (your/thy m.) *ṯaʕlab-

	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	*ṯaʕlabuka	*ṯaʕlabāka	plural stem + *-ūka
Genitive	*ṯaʕlabika	*ṯaʕlabayka	plural stem + *-īka
Accusative	*ṯaʕlabaka	*ṯaʕlabayka	plural stem + *-īka

Declension of 2sg f. possessive form (your/thy f.) *ṯaʕlab-

	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	*ṯaʕlabuki	*ṯaʕlabāki	plural stem + *-ūki
Genitive	*ṯaʕlabiki	*ṯaʕlabayki	plural stem + *-īki
Accusative	*ṯaʕlabaki	*ṯaʕlabayki	plural stem + *-īki

Descendants

East Semitic:
- Akkadian: 𒈜 (šēlebum)
West Semitic:
- Central Semitic:
  - Arabic: ثَعْلَب (ṯaʕlab)
    - Egyptian Arabic: تعلب (táʕlab)
    - Gulf Arabic: ثعلب (ṯaʕlab)
    - Hijazi Arabic: ثعلب (taʕlab, ṯaʕlab)
    - South Levantine Arabic: تعلب (táʕlab)
    - Yemeni Arabic: ثَعَلْ (ṯaʕal)
  - Aramaic:
    Hebrew script: תַּעַל (taʿal), תַּעֲלָא (taʿălāʾ)
    
    Syriac script: ܬ݁ܥܶܠ (təʿel), ܬܱ݁ܥܠܳܐ (taʿlāʾ)
  - Canaanite:
    - Hebrew: שׁוּעָל (shu'ál, šûʿāl)
  - Ugaritic 𐎘𐎓𐎍𐎁 (ṯʿlb /⁠ṯaʿlabu⁠/)

References

Militarev, Alexander, Kogan, Leonid (2000–2005) Semitic Etymological Dictionary, Münster: Ugarit-Verlag
Diakonoff, Igor M. (1988) Afrasian Languages (Languages of Asia and Africa), Moscow: Nauka, page 57.