Reconstruction:Proto-Finnic/hurma
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This Proto-Finnic 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-Finnic edit
Etymology edit
Unknown origin. The Estonian reflex has been compared with words in Samic and Mordvinic (e.g. Erzya орма (orma, “disease”)) that would, however, require h- as attested in Northern Finnic to be secondary. Contamination from Finnish huuma may be possible.
EVE suggests that the word could be a derivation from *huristak (“to hum, whirr”), thus originally meaning "humming, whirring", with a later possible semantic shift to "whirl, vortex". This would make the Livonian descendant closest to the original meaning. The meaning "blood" would be developed by ellipsis from *vërën hurma (literally “flow of blood”), while the meaning "ecstasy, excitement, charm" would refer to how such emotions 'make one's head spin'.[1]
Reconstruction edit
A number of direct descendants and derivatives show a meaning 'blood' or 'wound', usually used in poetic or mythical contexts (the semantically neutral term for 'blood' remains *veri in all Finnic languages), explained as being through the mythical belief in blood carrying a person's mental and spiritual power. Toivonen (1944) suggests this as the primary original meaning.[2]
Noun edit
*hurma
- ? excitement, ecstacy, charm
Derived terms edit
- *hurmat'ak (“to stun, charm”)
Descendants edit
- Estonian: urm (“blood, wound”)
- Finnish: hurma, hurme (“blood”)
- → Estonian: hurm
- Ingrian: hurmahenki
- Karelian: (Northern, poetic) hurmeh (“blood”)
- Livonian: ūrma (“stream, flow”) (< 'flowing blood'?)
References edit
- “urm”, in [ETY] Eesti etümoloogiasõnaraamat [Estonian Etymological Dictionary] (in Estonian) (online version), Tallinn: Eesti Keele Sihtasutus (Estonian Language Foundation), 2012
- Itkonen, Erkki, Kulonen, Ulla-Maija, editors (1992–2000), Suomen sanojen alkuperä [The origin of Finnish words][2] (in Finnish) (online version; note: also includes other etymological sources), Helsinki: Institute for the Languages of Finland/Finnish Literature Society, →ISBN