Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/-iz

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.

• IPA^(key): /iz/

From the zero-grade *-is- of Proto-Indo-European *-yes-, back-formed from weak inflections. Note that most case forms of an adjective can be functionally equivalent to an adverb.

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*-iz (adjective *-izô)

1. -er. Forms the comparative of certain adverbs.

This was the normal comparative suffix for all i-, u- and ja-stem adverbs. The regular a-stem adverbs sometimes used this suffix, and sometimes the related suffix *-ōz without any predictable rule.

• *-istaz (superlative)

Most of these descendants eventually replaced the suffix with the equivalent from the adjectives, because the older adverbial suffix was no longer distinctive after the loss of final *-iz.

• Old English: -
  • English: -er
• Old Frisian: -
  • West Frisian: -er
• Old Saxon: -
• Old Dutch: -
  • Middle Dutch: -
    • Dutch: -er
• Old High German: -
  • German: -er
• Old Norse: -r
  • Icelandic: -ur
  • Faroese: -ur
• Gothic: -𐌹𐍃 (-is)

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

*-iz

1. Forms vṛddhi gerundives from verbal roots.

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

*-iz (adjective suffix)

2. (forms attributive adjectives with the meaning of “X-ed” or “characterized by X”)

• Proto-West Germanic: *-ī (merged with *-jaz and *-ijaz)
  • Old English: -e
• Proto-Norse: -ᛁᛉ (-iʀ)
  • Old Norse: -r (fossilized, with i-umlaut)