Talk:shun

Etymology

Andrew H. Gray 17:24, 1 May 2019 (UTC) Compare the Cornish SCONYA (to avoid) [that might be a cognate[4]] <SCON (quick)[6] - one of the four lexemes with slightly varied meanings. It is possible that the cognate forms of shunt (of Norse origin)[8] are also ultimate derivatives of the root of SCON[5]; but there is no ascertained evidence for this. {Only, if this earlier meaning,"quick" is applicable, are the assumed P.I.E. semantics irrelevant in the entry account. Andrew H. Gray 12:08, 16 September 2019 (UTC)Andrew (talk)}

Etymology

From Middle English shǒnen (“to decline to do, avoid, fear”)[8], from Old English sċunian (“to shun, fear, avoid”)[8], of uncertain origin. Possibly from Proto-West Germanic *skū̌hnōn[3], *skū̌hnijan[3], *skeuhnēn (“to frighten, fear”)[4], from Proto-Germanic *skuhaz[3], *skeuhaz (“timid, fearful, shy”)[3].

Alternatively, possibly ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kewdʰ- (“to cover, wrap, encase”)[2], from *(s)kewH- (“to cover, hide”)[7]; if so, cognate with Old English hȳdan (“to hide, conceal, preserve”)[7]. Andrew talk 10.26, 04 March 2024

[0] means 'Absolutely not; [1] means 'Exceedingly unlikely'; [2] means 'Very dubious'; [3] means 'Questionable'; [4] means 'Possible'; [5] means 'Probable'; [6] means 'Likely'; [7] means 'Most Likely' or *Unattested; [8] means 'Attested'; [9] means 'Obvious' - only used for close matches within the same language or dialect, at linkable periods.  Andrew H. Gray 11:56, 9 January 2019 (UTC)Andrew (talk)