Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/arbaz

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

PIE word
*h₃órbʰos

From Pre-Germanic *h₃órbʰos (“orphan”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₃erbʰ-.

The inherited meaning "orphan" likely gave way to "worker", probably from orphans being used for forced labor by their caretakers, which is also implied by the Slavic meaning "servant, slave". In this context it is not hard to see a connection with Proto-Germanic *arbaidiz (“labor, toil”), probably through a verb *arbijaną.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɑr.βɑz/

Noun

*arbaz m

1. working-animal, ox; worker

Inflection

masculine a-stemDeclension of *arbaz (masculine a-stem)
	singular	plural
nominative	*arbaz	*arbōz, *arbōs
vocative	*arb	*arbōz, *arbōs
accusative	*arbą	*arbanz
genitive	*arbas, *arbis	*arbǫ̂
dative	*arbai	*arbamaz
instrumental	*arbō	*arbamiz

Descendants

• Old Norse: arfr