Reconstruction:Proto-Slavic/lěvъ

This Proto-Slavic 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-Slavic edit

Etymology edit

From Proto-Indo-European *leh₂iwos, a derivative of *leh₂-yé-ti (“to lurk, to ambush”) + *-wós, ultimately from *leh₂- (to be hidden, to wait from a distance). Cognates include Ancient Greek λαιός (laiós), Latin laevus. The adjective got its meaning likely due to the popular view that the left hand is the weaker, less suitable hand to use.

Adjective edit

*lě̑vъ[1][2]

  1. left

Inflection edit

Derived terms edit

Descendants edit

Further reading edit

  • Vasmer, Max (1964–1973) “ле́вый”, in Oleg Trubachyov, transl., Этимологический словарь русского языка [Etymological Dictionary of the Russian Language] (in Russian), Moscow: Progress

References edit

  1. ^ Derksen, Rick (2008) “*lě̑vъ”, in Etymological Dictionary of the Slavic Inherited Lexicon (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 4), Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, →ISSN, page 275:adj. o (c) ‘left’
  2. ^ Olander, Thomas (2001) “lěvъ lěva lěvo”, in Common Slavic Accentological Word List[1], Copenhagen: Editiones Olander:c venstre (PR 138)