Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/aigin

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

Alternative reconstructions

• *aiginą
• *aiginþ-

Etymology

Probably from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eyként- n (part.), from the same root as *aiglaz (“barb, shoot”), but no known parallels outside Germanic.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɑi̯.ɣin/

Noun

*aigin n

1. shoot, barb

Inflection

The nominative singular lacks the final consonant of the stem. This preserves an old sound change from late PIE, where word-final *-t becomes *-d. According to Grimm's Law, *t shifted to *þ, and *d shifted to *t. Following this, word-final *-t was lost regularly.

neuter consonant stemDeclension of *aigin (neuter consonant stem)
	singular	plural
nominative	*aigin	*aiginþ
vocative	*aigin	*aiginþ
accusative	*aigin	*aiginþ
genitive	*aiginþiz	*aiginþǫ̂
dative	*aiginþi	*aiginþumaz
instrumental	*aiginþē	*aiginþumiz

Descendants

• Old Saxon:
  • Middle Low German: ine
• Old Norse: eigin
  • Faroese: egi