Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/-āną

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

Somewhat uncertain. Reconstructed by Ringe as originating from earlier *-ajaną, from Proto-Indo-European *-oyéti (factitive verb suffix). The reconstruction of this Indo-European suffix is uncertain, but it would also be the origin of the Ancient Greek -όω (-óō) contracted verbs.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɑː.nɑ̃/

Verb

*-āną

1. Creates stative - fientive verbs from other verbs, from adjectives and from nouns.
2. Creates denominative verbs from nouns.
3. Creates factitive verbs from adjectives.

Inflection

Conjugation of *-āną (weak class 3)

	active voice			passive voice
present tense	indicative	subjunctive	imperative	indicative	subjunctive
1st singular	*-ō	?	—	?	?
2nd singular	*-aisi	?	*-ai	*-āsai	?
3rd singular	*-aiþi	?	*-āþau	*-āþai	?
1st dual	*-ōs	?	—	—	—
2nd dual	*-āþiz	?	*-āþiz	—	—
1st plural	*-āmaz	?	—	*-ānþai	?
2nd plural	*-aiþ	?	*-aiþ	*-ānþai	?
3rd plural	*-ānþi	?	*-ānþau	*-ānþai	?
past tense	indicative	subjunctive
1st singular	*-adǭ	*-adēdį̄
2nd singular	*-adēz	*-adēdīz
3rd singular	*-adē	*-adēdī
1st dual	*-adēdū	*-adēdīw
2nd dual	*-adēdudiz	*-adēdīdiz
1st plural	*-adēdum	*-adēdīm
2nd plural	*-adēdud	*-adēdīd
3rd plural	*-adēdun	*-adēdīn
	present	past
participles	*-āndz	*-adaz

Derived terms

Proto-Germanic class 3 weak verbs

Descendants

• Proto-West Germanic: *-ēn
  • Old English: -ian (in a few cases; preceded by a palatalised consonant or non-backed æ)
  • Old High German: -ēn
    • Middle High German: -en
      • German: -en
• Old Norse: -ja (only after short stems)
  • Icelandic: -ja
  • Faroese: -ja
• Gothic: -𐌰𐌽 (-ān)