Reconstruction:Proto-Balto-Slavic/lénktei

This Proto-Balto-Slavic 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-Balto-Slavic

Etymology

Formally from Proto-Indo-European *lenk-, which according to Derksen is limited to Balto-Slavic. Tentatively, has been compared with Latin oblīquus (“curved”), Sanskrit अभिव्लग् (abhivlag, “to catch”), both dismissed by Trubačev /ESSJa/ (in context to the Slavic descendant).

Another theory tentatively derives the root from the n-infix present of Proto-Indo-European *(s)lek- or *(s)lekʷ-, whence Latin laqueus (“lace, snare”), Proto-Germanic *slingwaną (“to sling”).

Verb

*lénktei^[1]^[2]

to bend, to curve
to twine

Conjugation

Fixed accent, thematic present.

Remark: Baltic descendants exhibit je-present, probably under the influence of related *línkti.

Related terms

*línktei (jé-present, ā-aorist)
- Latgalian: līkt (possibly)
- Latvian: lìekt (possibly)
- Lithuanian: liñkti
- Proto-Slavic: *lękati ~ *lęcati (with progressive palatalization)
*linkḗˀtei (stative)
*lankás (“arc, bow”)
*lánkīˀtei (“to cause to bend”)

Descendants

East Baltic:
- Latgalian: līkt (if not from *línkti)
- Latvian: lìekt (if not from *línkti)
- Lithuanian: leñkti
Proto-Slavic: *lękti (early) > *lęťi

References

^ Derksen, Rick (2008) “*lękti”, in Etymological Dictionary of the Slavic Inherited Lexicon (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 4), Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, page 277: “BSl. lenk-”
^ Derksen, Rick (2015) “lenkti”, in Etymological Dictionary of the Baltic Inherited Lexicon (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 13), Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, page 280: “BSl. lenk-”