Reconstruction:Proto-Semitic/naḥaš-

This Proto-Semitic 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-Semitic edit

Etymology edit

Perhaps prefixed from a term which is reconstructible for East Cushitic, Somali yexaas (“crocodile”).

Noun edit

*naḥaš- m

predatory cat, probably a lion

Inflection edit

Declension of *naḥaš-

Case

Singular

Dual

Plural

Nominative

*naḥašum

*naḥašāna

plural stem + *-ūna

Genitive

*naḥašim

*naḥašayna

plural stem + *-īna

Accusative

*naḥašam

possessive forms

1st person

*naḥašī / *naḥašVya

—

*naḥašVni

2nd person m

*naḥašVka

*naḥašVkumā / *naḥašVkumay

*naḥašVkum(ū)

2nd person f

*naḥašVki

*naḥašVkin(ā)

3rd person m

*naḥašVšu

*naḥašVšumā / *naḥašVšumay

*naḥašVšum(ū)

3rd person f

*naḥašVša

*naḥašVšin(ā)

Note: the endings -m and -na are dropped in the bound form, which may also undergo syncopation of an unstressed final vowel where possible.

Note: the ending -V before the possessive endings responds to case: *naḥašuya for nom. case, *naḥašiya for gen. case, *naḥašaya for acc. case, etc.

Declension of 2sg m. possessive form (your/thy m.) *naḥaš-

	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	*naḥašuka	*naḥašāka	plural stem + *-ūka
Genitive	*naḥašika	*naḥašayka	plural stem + *-īka
Accusative	*naḥašaka	*naḥašayka	plural stem + *-īka

Declension of 2sg f. possessive form (your/thy f.) *naḥaš-

	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	*naḥašuki	*naḥašāki	plural stem + *-ūki
Genitive	*naḥašiki	*naḥašayki	plural stem + *-īki
Accusative	*naḥašaki	*naḥašayki	plural stem + *-īki

Descendants edit

East Semitic:
- Akkadian: 𒌨𒈤 (nēšum, “lion”)
West Semitic: “snake”, probably a cobra by comparison of its hood to the lion’s mane
- Central Semitic:
  - Arabic: حَنَش (ḥanaš), from older *نَحَش (*naḥaš) with irregular ش (š) due to imitation or dissimilation pressure; a regular reflex for “lion” is also transmitted, as نَهَّاس (nahhās), نَهُوس (nahūs), مِنْهَس (minhas)
  - Northwest Semitic:
    - Canaanite:
      - Hebrew: נָחָשׁ (nakhásh, nāḥāš)
    - Ugaritic: 𐎐𐎈𐎌 (nḥš /⁠naḥašu⁠/)

References edit

Militarev, Alexander, Kogan, Leonid (2005) Semitic Etymological Dictionary, volume II: Animal Names, Münster: Ugarit-Verlag, →ISBN, pages 210–211 Nr. 159