Reconstruction:Proto-West Germanic/-ī

This Proto-West 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-West Germanic

Etymology 1

From Proto-Germanic *-į̄.

Suffix

*-ī f

2. -ness, -th. Forms abstract nouns from adjectives which represent the state, quality or measure of the adjective.

Inflection

īn-stem
	Singular
Nominative	*-ī
Genitive	*-īn
	Singular	Plural
Nominative	*-ī	—
Accusative	*-īn	—
Genitive	*-īn	—
Dative	*-īn	—
Instrumental	*-īn	—

Derived terms

Proto-West Germanic terms suffixed with *-ī (abstract noun)

Descendants

• Old English: -u (even after long syllables, e.g. ieldu, brǣdu)
  • Middle English: -e
• Old Frisian: -e
  • North Frisian: -e
  • Saterland Frisian: -e
• Old Saxon: -i
  • Middle Low German: -e
• Old Dutch: *-i
  • Middle Dutch: -e
    • Dutch: -e
• Old High German: -ī
  • Middle High German: -e
    • German: -e

Etymology 2

From Proto-Germanic *-jaz.

Suffix

*-ī

2. Forms adjectives from verbs and nouns.

Inflection

ja-stem
Singular	Masculine
Nominative	*-ī
Genitive	*-ijas
Singular	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	*-ī	*-iju	*-ī
Accusative	*-ijanā	*-ijā	*-ī
Genitive	*-ijas	*-ijeʀā	*-ijas
Dative	*-ijumē	*-ijeʀē	*-ijumē
Instrumental	*-iju	*-ijeʀu	*-iju
Plural	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	*-ijē	*-ijō	*-iju
Accusative	*-ijā	*-ijā	*-iju
Genitive	*-ijeʀō	*-ijeʀō	*-ijeʀō
Dative	*-ijēm, *-ijum	*-ijēm, *-ijum	*-ijēm, *-ijum
Instrumental	*-ijēm, *-ijum	*-ijēm, *-ijum	*-ijēm, *-ijum

Derived terms

Proto-West Germanic terms suffixed with *-ī (adjective)