Reconstruction:Proto-Brythonic/Düβnėnt

This Proto-Brythonic 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-Brythonic

Etymology

From an earlier *Dub(no)nantī, a compound equivalent to *duβn ("deep") +‎ *nant ("valley"). The i-affection may originate from a plural or genitive case ending.

Although sometimes held to be directly from Proto-Celtic *Dubnonī (whence Latin Dumnōniī), this cannot fully explain the final *-t.

Proper noun

*Düβnėnt

1. Devon, the main territory of the historic Dumnonian kingdom and a later county of England.

Descendants

• Middle Breton:
  • Breton: Devnent
• Middle Cornish: Dewnans
  • Cornish: Dewnans, Dewnens
• Middle Welsh: Dyfneint
  • Welsh: Dyfnaint
• →? Old English: Defena (or from a reflex of *Dubnonī?)
  • Middle English: Devene
    • English: Devon
  • ⇒ Old English: Defenascir
    • Middle English: Devenescire
      • English: Devonshire

See also

• *Körnɨw (“Cornwall”)