Reconstruction:Proto-Semitic/ḳarn-

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

Etymology

A possible loan relation with Indo-European *ḱr̥h₂-nó-s (“horn”) (from *ḱerh₂- (“horn, head”)) has been suggested, but the direction of loaning is disputed. Alternatively suggested to be cognate with a Proto-Omotic *ḳar- (“horn”), from Proto-Afroasiatic *ḳar- (“horn”) (tentative reconstructions).^[1] Despite Orel and Stolbova’s connection with a supposed Egyptian qrtj (“horns”, dual), however, the Egyptian word is properly krtj and cannot correspond to the Semitic.

Noun

*ḳarn- f

horn

Inflection

Masculine:

Declension of *ḳarn-
case	singular	dual	plural
nominative	*ḳarnum	*ḳarnāna	plural stem + *-ūna
accusative	*ḳarnam	*ḳarnayna	plural stem + *-īna
genitive	*ḳarnim	*ḳarnayna	plural stem + *-īna

possessive forms
1^st person	ḳarnī / ḳarnVya	—	*ḳarnVni
2^nd person m	*ḳarnVka	ḳarnVkumā / ḳarnVkumay	*ḳarnVkum(ū)
2^nd person f	*ḳarnVki	ḳarnVkumā / ḳarnVkumay	*ḳarnVkin(ā)
3^rd person m	*ḳarnVšu	ḳarnVšumā / ḳarnVšumay	*ḳarnVšum(ū)
3^rd person f	*ḳarnVša	ḳarnVšumā / ḳarnVšumay	*ḳarnVšin(ā)

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: *ḳarnuya for nom. case, *ḳarniya for gen. case, *ḳarnaya for acc. case, etc.

Femenine:

Declension of *ḳarn-
case	singular	dual	plural
nominative	*ḳarnum	*ḳarnāna	*ḳarnātum
accusative	*ḳarnam	*ḳarnayna	*ḳarnātim
genitive	*ḳarnim	*ḳarnayna	*ḳarnātim

possessive forms
1^st person	ḳarnī / ḳarnVya	—	*ḳarnVni
2^nd person m	*ḳarnVka	ḳarnVkumā / ḳarnVkumay	*ḳarnVkum(ū)
2^nd person f	*ḳarnVki	ḳarnVkumā / ḳarnVkumay	*ḳarnVkin(ā)
3^rd person m	*ḳarnVšu	ḳarnVšumā / ḳarnVšumay	*ḳarnVšum(ū)
3^rd person f	*ḳarnVša	ḳarnVšumā / ḳarnVšumay	*ḳarnVšin(ā)

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: *ḳarnuya for nom. case, *ḳarniya for gen. case, *ḳarnaya for acc. case, etc.

Descendants

East Semitic:
- Akkadian: 𒋛 (qarnum)
West Semitic:
- Central Semitic:
  - Arabic: قَرْن (qarn) (see there for further descendants)
  - Northwest Semitic:
    - Aramaic: קְרַן (qəran), קַרְנָא (qarnā)
      - Classical Syriac: ܩܪܶܢ (qəren), ܩܰܰܪܢܳܐ (qarnā)
    - Canaanite:
      - Hebrew: קֶרֶן (kéren, qéren)
      - Phoenician: 𐤒𐤓𐤍 (qrn)
    - Ugaritic: 𐎖𐎗𐎐 (qrn /⁠qarnu⁠/)
- Ethiopian Semitic:
  - Tigrinya: ቀርኒ (ḳärni)

References

^ Orel, Vladimir E., Stolbova, Olga V. (1995) “*ḳar-”, in Hamito-Semitic Etymological Dictionary: Materials for a Reconstruction (Handbuch der Orientalistik; I.18), Leiden, New York, Köln: E.J. Brill: “1549. *ḳar- “horn””

[1] Orel, Vladimir E., Stolbova, Olga V. (1995) “*ḳar-”, in Hamito-Semitic Etymological Dictionary: Materials for a Reconstruction (Handbuch der Orientalistik; I.18), Leiden, New York, Köln: E.J. Brill: “1549. *ḳar- “horn””

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