Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/snellaz

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.

Proto-Germanic

Etymology

Uncertain. Possibly from Pre-Germanic *snedʰlos, from Proto-Indo-European *snedʰ- (“to cut”), a root probably also attested in *snadō (“cut, wound”). (This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Particularly: “What are some potential extra-Germanic cognates, if this is the origin of the word?”) If so, the meaning might have developed from "cutting" > "eager to cut" > "eager, active, quick, brave (in battle)". For the assimilation of -dl- to -ll-, see also *stallaz, *knullaz, *trullōną. However, this theory is doubted by linguists, including Magnusson, who seems to favor an onomatopoeic origin.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈsnel.lɑz/

Adjective

*snellaz

active, bold, quick

Inflection

Declension of *snellaz (a-stem)
Strong declension
	singular			plural
	masculine	feminine	neuter	masculine	feminine	neuter
nominative	*snellaz	*snellō	*snellą, -atō	*snellai	*snellôz	*snellō
accusative	*snellanǭ	*snellǭ	*snellą, -atō	*snellanz	*snellōz	*snellō
genitive	*snellas, -is	*snellaizōz	*snellas, -is	*snellaizǫ̂	*snellaizǫ̂	*snellaizǫ̂
dative	*snellammai	*snellaizōi	*snellammai	*snellaimaz	*snellaimaz	*snellaimaz
instrumental	*snellanō	*snellaizō	*snellanō	*snellaimiz	*snellaimiz	*snellaimiz

Weak declension
	singular			plural
	masculine	feminine	neuter	masculine	feminine	neuter
nominative	*snellô	*snellǭ	*snellô	*snellaniz	*snellōniz	*snellōnō
accusative	*snellanų	*snellōnų	*snellô	*snellanunz	*snellōnunz	*snellōnō
genitive	*snelliniz	*snellōniz	*snelliniz	*snellanǫ̂	*snellōnǫ̂	*snellanǫ̂
dative	*snellini	*snellōni	*snellini	*snellammaz	*snellōmaz	*snellammaz
instrumental	*snellinē	*snellōnē	*snellinē	*snellammiz	*snellōmiz	*snellammiz

Derived terms

Descendants

Proto-West Germanic: *snell
- Old English: snel, snell
  - Middle English: snell
    - English: snell
    - Scots: snell
- Old Frisian: snel
  - West Frisian: snel
- Old Saxon: snell, snel
  - Middle Low German: snell, snel
    - German Low German: snell
- Old Dutch: *snel
  - Middle Dutch: snel, snell
    - Dutch: snel
      - Afrikaans: snel
- → Vulgar Latin: *snellus (alternatively from Gothic *𐍃𐌽𐌹𐌻𐌻𐍃 (*snills))
  - Old French: esnel, isnel, inel
    - Middle French: isnel, ignel
  - Occitan: isnel, irnel
  - Italian: snello
- Old High German: snel
  - Middle High German: snël
    - Alemannic German:
      Alsatian: schnëll
    - Bavarian: schnej, schnö, schnöll
    - German: schnell
      - → Russian: шнель (šnelʹ), шнеле (šnele), шнеля (šnelja, “quickly; go”)
    - Yiddish: שנעל (shnel)
Old Norse: snjallr
- Icelandic: snjallur, snjall
- Faroese: snjallur
- Norwegian Bokmål: snill
- Old Swedish: sniælder, snælder
  - Swedish: snäll
- Old Danish: snialdær, sniældær, snildær, sniæll
  - Danish: snild
- Gutnish: snäldar, snällar

References

^ Vladimir Orel (2003) “*snellaz”, in A Handbook of Germanic Etymology‎, Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, page 357
^ Ásgeir Blöndal Magnússon (1989) “sjnall”, in Íslensk orðsifjabók, Reykjavík: Árni Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studies, →ISBN (Available at Málið.is under the “Eldri orðabækur” tab.)

[1] Vladimir Orel (2003) “*snellaz”, in A Handbook of Germanic Etymology‎, Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, page 357

[2] Ásgeir Blöndal Magnússon (1989) “sjnall”, in Íslensk orðsifjabók, Reykjavík: Árni Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studies, →ISBN (Available at Málið.is under the “Eldri orðabækur” tab.)