Reconstruction:Proto-Brythonic/-enn

This Proto-Brythonic 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-Brythonic

Etymology

From Proto-Celtic *-inyā. Cognate with Old Irish -(i)ne.^[1]^[2]^[3]

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /enː/

Suffix

*-enn f (masculine *-ɨnn)

Forms singulatives of collective nouns.
‎*llugod (“mice”) + ‎*-enn → ‎*llugodenn (“mouse”)

‎*ster (“stars”) + ‎*-enn → ‎*sterenn (“star”)

‎*know (“nuts”) + ‎*-enn → ‎*knowenn (“nut”)
Forms abstract derivatives of certain nouns and adjectives.
‎*llɨθer (“letter, missive”) + ‎*-enn → ‎*llɨθerenn (“letter, character, type”)

Descendants

Old Breton: -enn
- Middle Breton: -enn
  - Breton: -enn
Old Cornish: -en
- Middle Cornish: -en
  - Cornish: -en
Old Welsh: -en
- Middle Welsh: -en
  - Welsh: -en

References

^ Schrijver, Peter C. H. (1995) Studies in British Celtic historical phonology (Leiden studies in Indo-European; 5), Amsterdam, Atlanta: Rodopi, page 260
^ Irslinger, Britta (2010) “Les dérivés gallois, cornique -yn/-en, breton -enn et irlandais -ne: fonction et sémantique”, in La Bretagne Linguistique‎, page 58
^ R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present), “-yn”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies

[1] Schrijver, Peter C. H. (1995) Studies in British Celtic historical phonology (Leiden studies in Indo-European; 5), Amsterdam, Atlanta: Rodopi, page 260

[2] Irslinger, Britta (2010) “Les dérivés gallois, cornique -yn/-en, breton -enn et irlandais -ne: fonction et sémantique”, in La Bretagne Linguistique‎, page 58

[3] R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present), “-yn”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies

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