Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/dwergaz

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

Uncertain. Sometimes compared with Sanskrit ध्वरस् (dhvaras, “demon”) or Lithuanian dvãsas (“spirit”). Kroonen instead suggests a derivation from strong verb *dwerganą (whence Middle High German zwergen (“to squeeze, press”)).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈdwer.ɣɑz/

Noun

*dwergaz m

1. dwarf

Inflection

masculine a-stemDeclension of *dwergaz (masculine a-stem)
	singular	plural
nominative	*dwergaz	*dwergōz, *dwergōs
vocative	*dwerg	*dwergōz, *dwergōs
accusative	*dwergą	*dwerganz
genitive	*dwergas, *dwirgis	*dwergǫ̂
dative	*dwirgai	*dwergamaz
instrumental	*dwergō	*dwergamiz

Related terms

• *durgaz
• *durgī, *dwirgī

Descendants

• Proto-West Germanic: *dwerg
  • Old English: dweorg, dweorh, dwerg
    • Middle English: dwerf, dwergh, dwerw
      • English: dwarf
      • Scots: droich, droch; dwerch, duerch, duerche, dorche
        • → Scottish Gaelic: troich
  • Old Frisian: dwerch
    • Saterland Frisian: Dwärch
    • West Frisian: dwerch
  • Old Saxon: dwerg
    • Middle Low German: dwerch, dwarch, dwark
      • Low German: Dwarg
  • Old Dutch: *dwerg
    • Middle Dutch: dwerch
      • Dutch: dwerg
        • Afrikaans: dwerg
  • Old High German: twerc, twerg
    • Middle High German: twerc
      • German: Zwerg
• Old Norse: dvergr
  • Icelandic: dvergur
  • Faroese: dvørgur
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: dverg; (dialectal) verg, tverg
  • Old Swedish: dværgher
    • Swedish: dvärg
  • Danish: dværg
    • Norwegian Bokmål: dverg
  • Gutnish: dvärg, värg