From earlier *merkwuz, from Proto-Indo-European *(h₂)mer(H)gʷ- (“dark”), cognate to Proto-Slavic *mergъ (“brown”).[1] Orr summarizes arguments for borrowing from common Slavic into common Germanic.[2] (This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Particularly: “Disagreement in the literature”) In any case, related to Proto-Slavic *morkъ (“darkness”).
*merkuz[3]
Strong declension | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | |||
Singular | Plural | Singular | Plural | Singular | Plural | |
Nominative | *merkuz | *mirkwijai | *mirkwī | *mirkwijôz | *merkų, -ijatō | *mirkwijō |
Accusative | *mirkwijanǭ | *mirkwijanz | *mirkwijǭ | *mirkwijōz | *merkų, -ijatō | *mirkwijō |
Genitive | *mirkwijas, -īs | *mirkwijaizǫ̂ | *mirkwijaizōz | *mirkwijaizǫ̂ | *mirkwijas, -īs | *mirkwijaizǫ̂ |
Dative | *mirkwijammai | *mirkwijaimaz | *mirkwijaizōi | *mirkwijaimaz | *mirkwijammai | *mirkwijaimaz |
Instrumental | *mirkwijanō | *mirkwijaimiz | *mirkwijaizō | *mirkwijaimiz | *mirkwijanō | *mirkwijaimiz |
Weak declension | ||||||
Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | |||
Singular | Plural | Singular | Plural | Singular | Plural | |
Nominative | *mirkwijô | *mirkwijaniz | *mirkwijǭ | *mirkwijōniz | *mirkwijô | *mirkwijōnō |
Accusative | *mirkwijanų | *mirkwijanunz | *mirkwijōnų | *mirkwijōnunz | *mirkwijô | *mirkwijōnō |
Genitive | *mirkwīniz | *mirkwijanǫ̂ | *mirkwijōniz | *mirkwijōnǫ̂ | *mirkwīniz | *mirkwijanǫ̂ |
Dative | *mirkwīni | *mirkwijammaz | *mirkwijōni | *mirkwijōmaz | *mirkwīni | *mirkwijammaz |
Instrumental | *mirkwīnē | *mirkwijammiz | *mirkwijōnē | *mirkwijōmiz | *mirkwīnē | *mirkwijammiz |