Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/abô

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

Probably represents a zero-grade agent n-stem derived from the lost strong verb *afaną. The semantics probably developed from "he who works, labors" > "man of the household".

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɑ.βɔːː/

Noun

*abô m

1. husband

Inflection

The plural forms preserve the zero-grade forms of the suffix. The dative plural form was apparently taken from the a-stems.

masculine an-stemDeclension of *abô (masculine an-stem)
	singular	plural
nominative	*abô	*abniz
vocative	*abô	*abniz
accusative	*abanų	*abnuz
genitive	*abniz	*abnǫ̂
dative	*abni	*abnamaz
instrumental	*abnē	*abnamiz

Descendants

• Old Norse: afi
  • Faroese: avi
  • Icelandic: afi
• Gothic: 𐌰𐌱𐌰 (aba)

Further reading

• Lehmann, Winfred P. (1986) A Gothic Etymological Dictionary, based on the 3rd ed. of Feist’s dictionary, Leiden: E. J. Brill, page 1