Indo-European Lexicon
PIE Etymon and IE Reflexes
Below we display: a Proto-Indo-European (PIE) etymon adapted from Pokorny, with our own English gloss; our Semantic Field assignment(s) for the etymon, linked to information about the field(s); an optional Comment; and Reflexes (derived words) in various Indo-European languages, organized by family/group in west-to-east order where Germanic is split into West/North/East families and English, our language of primary emphasis, is artificially separated from West Germanic. IE Reflexes appear most often as single words with any optional letter(s) enclosed in parentheses; but alternative full spellings are separated by '/' and "principal parts" appear in a standard order (e.g. masculine, feminine, and neuter forms) separated by commas.
Reflexes are annotated with: Part-of-Speech and/or other Grammatical feature(s); a short Gloss which, especially for modern English reflexes, may be confined to the oldest sense; and some Source citation(s) with 'LRC' always understood as editor. Keys to PoS/Gram feature abbreviations and Source codes appear below the reflexes; at the end are links to the previous/next etyma [in Pokorny's alphabetic order] that have reflexes.
All reflex pages are currently under active construction; as time goes on, corrections may be made and/or more etyma & reflexes may be added.
Pokorny Etymon: 1. bher- 'to bear, bring, carry'
Semantic Field(s): to Bear, Carry, to Bring
Indo-European Reflexes:
| Family/Language | Reflex(es) | PoS/Gram. | Gloss | Source(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Celtic | ||||
| Old Irish: | biru, berid | vb | to bear | GED/RPN |
| Irish: | brith | n | birth | CDC |
| Gaelic: | bréith | n | birth | CDC |
| Welsh: | hebrwng | vb | to accompany | W7 |
| English | ||||
| Old English: | ān-boren | adj | only-born, only-begotten | ASD |
| bǣr | n.fem | bier | ASD/W7 | |
| bearm | n.masc | lap, bosom | LRC | |
| bearn | n.neut | bairn | LRC | |
| be(o)ran, bær, bǣron, boren | vb.str.IV | to bear, suffer, give birth | ASD/RPN | |
| be(o)rþor, borþor, byrþor | n | childbirth | ASD/RPN | |
| *berewe, bearwe | n | barrow | CDC/W7 | |
| *berewe | n | barrow | CDC | |
| byre | n | birr, storm, strong wind | RPN | |
| byre | n.str.masc | son | GED | |
| byrðen, berðen, byrðyn | n.fem | burden | ASD/W7 | |
| forberan | vb.str | to forbear | ASD/W7 | |
| gebyrd | n | birth | CDC | |
| gebyrd-dæg | n.str.masc | birthday | CDC | |
| offrian | vb.wk | to offer | ASD/W7 | |
| un-baren, un-boren | adj | unborn | ASD/GED | |
| Middle English: | barew, bar(e)we | n | barrow | CDC/W7 |
| barm | n | lap | MEV | |
| barn(e), bern | n | bairn | MEV/W7 | |
| bar(r)ow, barowe | n | barrow | CDC | |
| be(e)re, beer | n | bier | CDC/W7 | |
| bere-bag | n | bag-bearer (pejorative re: Scots) | MEV | |
| beren | vb | to bear | W7 | |
| bir(r), byr(re), bur(re) | n | birr, following wind | CDC/MEV/W7 | |
| birthdai, bitheday | n | birthday | CDC | |
| birth(e), berth | n | birth | CDC/W7 | |
| bore | n | wave | W7 | |
| born | adj | born | W7 | |
| burde, burthe | n | birth | CDC | |
| burden, byrthen | n | burden | MEV/W7 | |
| byrde, byrth(e) | n | birth | CDC | |
| circumference | n | circumference | W7 | |
| deferren, differren | vb | to defer | W7 | |
| differen | vb | to differ | W7 | |
| ferret | n | ferret | W7 | |
| fertile | adj | fertile | W7 | |
| forberen | vb | to forbear | W7 | |
| fortune | n | fortune | W7 | |
| furet | n | ferret | W7 | |
| offren | vb | to offer | W7 | |
| preferren | vb | to prefer | W7 | |
| profren | vb | to proffer | W7 | |
| referren | vb | to refer | W7 | |
| suffren | vb | to suffer | W7 | |
| transferren | vb | to transfer | W7 | |
| English: | afferent | adj | bearing/conducting inward | AHD/W7 |
| amphora | n | jar/vase with large oval body/narrow neck/two handles | AHD/W7 | |
| anaphora | n | repetition for rhetorical/poetic effect | AHD/W7 | |
| Anborn | prop.n | Ithilien ranger in Tolkien: The Lord of the Rings | LRC | |
| bairn | n | child, baby | W7 | |
| barrow | n | handcart, wheelbarrow | AHD/W7 | |
| bear, bore, born(e) | vb.str | to carry: support and move | AHD/W7 | |
| bier | n | framework for carrying | AHD/W7 | |
| birr | n | force, onward rush (e.g. of wind) | AHD/W7 | |
| birth | n | emergence of new individual from body of mother | AHD/W7 | |
| birthday | n | day/anniversary of one's birth | W7 | |
| bore | n | tidal flood with high abrupt front | AHD/W7 | |
| born | adj | brought into existence by birth | W7 | |
| burden | n | load, something carried | AHD/W7 | |
| burly | adj | strong, heavy, muscular | AHD | |
| circumference | n | perimeter of circle | AHD/W7 | |
| confer | vb | to compare | AHD/W7 | |
| defer | vb | to refer for decision | AHD/W7 | |
| defer | vb.trans | to delay, put off | AHD/W7 | |
| diaphoresis | n | perspiration | AHD/W7 | |
| differ | vb.intrans | to be unlike/distinct in form/nature/characteristics | AHD/W7 | |
| efferent | adj | conducting outward from | AHD/W7 | |
| euphoria | n | feeling of elation/well-being | AHD/W7 | |
| Fairbairn | prop.n | hobbit surname in Tolkien: The Lord of the Rings | LRC | |
| -fer | n.pfx | one/thing that bears | AHD/W7 | |
| feretory | n | reliquary, receptacle for saints' relics | AHD | |
| ferret | n | partially domesticated often albino European polecat | AHD/W7 | |
| fertile | adj | producing/bearing fruit in large quantity | AHD/W7 | |
| Firstborn | prop.n | the Elves in Tolkien: The Lord of the Rings | LRC | |
| forbear, forbore, forborne | vb.str | to endure, bear with | AHD/W7 | |
| fortuitous | adj | occurring by chance | AHD/W7 | |
| fortune | n | hypothetical force/personified power determining events/issues | AHD/W7 | |
| furtive | adj | surreptitious, done by stealth | AHD/W7 | |
| furuncle | n | boil, local skin swelling/infection | AHD/W7 | |
| furunculosis | n | condition involving multiple furuncles | AHD | |
| infer | vb | to derive as conclusion from facts/premises | AHD/W7 | |
| metaphor | n | word/phrase used instead of another to suggest likeness/analogy | AHD/W7 | |
| offer | vb | to sacrifice, present as act of worship/devotion | AHD/W7 | |
| ommatophore | n | movable stalk ending with (snail) eye | AHD | |
| opprobrium | n | something that brings disgrace | AHD/W7 | |
| paraphernalia | n | property controlled by married woman | AHD/W7 | |
| periphery | n | perimeter of circle/other closed curve | AHD/W7 | |
| pheromone | n | chemical secreted by animal to influence others | AHD | |
| -phore | n.pfx | carrier | AHD/W7 | |
| -phoresis | n.pfx | transmission | AHD/W7 | |
| phosphorus | n | phosphorescent substance/body | AHD/W7 | |
| prefer | vb.trans | to promote/advance to rank/position | AHD/W7 | |
| proffer | vb | to offer, tender, present for acceptance | AHD/W7 | |
| refer | vb | to regard/classify/think of within general group/category | AHD/W7 | |
| suffer | vb | to submit to, be forced to endure | AHD/W7 | |
| telpher | n | light car suspended from/running on aerial cables | AHD/W7 | |
| tocopherol | n | oily fat-soluble phenolic compound | AHD/W7 | |
| transfer | vb | to transport, convey to another person/place/situation | AHD/W7 | |
| unborn | adj | not (yet) born | W7 | |
| vociferate | vb | to clamor, cry out loudly | AHD/W7 | |
| Scots English: | bairn | n | child, baby | W7 |
| bir, be(i)r, bere, bur(r) | n | birr | CDC | |
| West Germanic | ||||
| Old Frisian: | barm-bracco | n | lap-dog | ASD |
| bera | vb | to bear | GED | |
| berd, berth | n | birth | CDC | |
| berde, berthe | n.fem | burden | ASD | |
| bēre | n.fem | bier | ASD | |
| bern | n.neut | bairn | ASD | |
| offria | vb | to offer | ASD | |
| Dutch: | baar | n.fem | bier | ASD |
| baren | vb | to bear | CDC | |
| berrie | n | barrow | CDC | |
| emmer | n | bucket | TLL | |
| geboorte | n | birth | CDC | |
| Old Saxon: | bāra | n.fem | bier | ASD |
| barm | n.masc | lap, bosom | ASD | |
| barn | n.neut | bairn | ASD | |
| beran | vb | to bear | GED | |
| burðinnia | n.fem | burden | ASD | |
| giburt | n | birth | CDC | |
| Old Low German: | offron | vb | to offer | ASD |
| Old High German: | bāra | n.fem | bier | ASD |
| barm | n.masc | lap, bosom | ASD | |
| barn | n.neut | bairn | ASD/W7 | |
| beran | vb | to bear | GED | |
| burdi | n.fem | burden | ASD | |
| eimbar | n | jug, bucket, vessel | KDW | |
| giburt | n | birth | CDC | |
| opfarōn | vb | to offer | ASD | |
| Middle High German: | bar | n.masc | bairn: son; man | GED |
| bāre | n.fem | bier | ASD | |
| bere | n | barrow | CDC | |
| bürde | n.fem | burden | ASD | |
| burren | vb | to rush, roar, whir | RPN | |
| geburt | n | birth | CDC | |
| rade-ber | n | wheelbarrow | CDC | |
| German: | Bahre | n.fem | bier | ASD |
| Bürde | n.fem | burden | ASD | |
| Eimer | n | bucket | TLL | |
| Geburt | n.fem | birth | CDC | |
| Geburtstag | n.masc | birthday | LRC | |
| Radberge, Radbürge | n | wheelbarrow | CDC | |
| North Germanic | ||||
| Old Norse: | baðmr | n.masc | tree | LRC |
| barn | n.neut | bairn | LRC | |
| bāra | n | wave | W7 | |
| bera | vb | to bear, give birth, endure | LRC | |
| borr, burr | n.masc | bairn: son | ASD | |
| burðr | n.masc | birth | LRC | |
| byrðr | n.fem | load, burden | LRC | |
| byrr | n | birr, favoring wind | W7 | |
| Old Icelandic: | barmr | n.masc | lap, bosom | ASD |
| bera | vb | to bear | GED | |
| burr | n.str.masc | son | GED | |
| ū-borinn | adj | unborn | GED | |
| Icelandic: | barar, börur | n | bier | CDC |
| barmr | n.masc | lap, bosom | ASD | |
| barn | n.neut | bairn | ASD | |
| bera | vb | to bear | CDC | |
| *byrðr, burðr | n | birth | CDC | |
| byrðr, byrðl | n.fem | burden | ASD | |
| byrr | n | birr | CDC | |
| offra | vb | to offer | ASD | |
| Danish: | baar(e) | n | bier | ASD/CDC |
| bare | vb | to bear | CDC | |
| barn | n.neut | bairn | ASD | |
| byrd | n | birth | CDC | |
| byrde | n.fem | burden | ASD | |
| bör | n | birr | CDC | |
| Old Swedish: | byrþ | n | birth | CDC |
| Swedish: | barn | n.neut | bairn | ASD |
| bör | n | birr | CDC | |
| börd | n | birth | CDC | |
| börda | n.fem | burden | ASD | |
| bår | n | bier, barrow | CDC | |
| bära | vb | to bear | CDC | |
| ämbar | n | bucket | TLL | |
| East Germanic | ||||
| Gothic: | baíran | vb.str.IV | to bear, give birth | LRC |
| bairan | vb | to bear, carry, endure, give birth | GED | |
| barms | n.masc | lap, bosom | ASD | |
| barn | n.str.neut | bairn | LRC | |
| barniskei | n.wk.fem | childish thing | LRC | |
| *baur | n.masc | bairn, son, one born | GED/RPN | |
| baurþei | n.fem | burden | ASD | |
| fra-bairan | vb | to endure | ASD | |
| gabaurþs | n | birth | CDC | |
| un-baurans | adj | unborn | ASD | |
| Crimean Gothic: | *baarn, baar | n | bairn: boy, son | CGo |
| Italic | ||||
| Latin: | adferō, adferre | vb | to bring/carry to | ELD/W7 |
| afferens, afferentis | adj/vb.ptc | consequent, that comes with | W7 | |
| amphora | n.fem | amphora | W7 | |
| auferō, auferre | vb | to bear off, carry away | ELD | |
| circumferentia | n.fem | circumference | W7 | |
| circumfero, circumferre | vb | to carry around | W7 | |
| confero, conferre | vb | to bring together | W7 | |
| defero, deferre | vb | to bring (down) | W7 | |
| differo, differre | vb | to be different, go in another direction | W7 | |
| differro, differre | vb | to postpone, be different | W7 | |
| effero, efferre | vb | to elevate, carry out | W7 | |
| -fer | sfx | which brings/produces | W7 | |
| feretrum | n | bier, litter | CDC | |
| ferō, ferre | vb | to bear, carry, give birth | GED | |
| fertilis | adj | fertile | W7 | |
| fors, fortis | n.fem | luck, chance, fortune | W7 | |
| fortuitus | adj | random | W7 | |
| fortuna, fortunae | n.fem | chance, fortune | LRC | |
| fur | n.masc | thief | W7 | |
| furō, furere | n | to rage, be furious | RPN | |
| furo | n.masc | thief, ferret | W7 | |
| furtivus | adj | furtive, secret, concealed | W7 | |
| furtum | n.neut | theft | W7 | |
| fūrunculus | n.masc.dim | furuncle, sucker; pilferer, petty thief | ELD/W7 | |
| infer | adj | the lowest | W7 | |
| infero, inferre | vb | to bring/carry in/into | W7 | |
| metaphora | n.fem | metaphor | W7 | |
| offero, offerre | vb | to offer, present | W7 | |
| opprobrium | n.neut | opprobrium | W7 | |
| opprobro, opprobrare | vb | to reproach | W7 | |
| praefero, praeferre | vb | to prefer, put in front | W7 | |
| probrum | n.neut | reproach | W7 | |
| refero, referre | vb | to refer, report, bring back | W7 | |
| suffero, sufferre | vb | to suffer, bring under | W7 | |
| tranfero, transferre | vb | to carry through | W7 | |
| vōciferor, vōciferari, vōciferatus | vb.dep | to vociferate | W7 | |
| Vulgar Latin: | furittus | n.masc.dim | little thief | W7 |
| sufferio, sufferire | vb | to suffer | W7 | |
| Late Latin: | anaphora | n.fem | anaphora, figure of style | W7 |
| diaphoresis | n.fem | dissipation by perspiration | W7 | |
| peripheria | n.fem | periphery | W7 | |
| Medieval Latin: | paraphernalia | n.neut.pl | private property of married woman | W7 |
| New Latin: | euphoria | n.fem | joy, euphoria | W7 |
| -phoresis | sfx | act of carrying | W7 | |
| -phorus | sfx | bearing | W7 | |
| phosphorus | n.masc | phosphorus | W7 | |
| Portuguese: | furão | n | ferret | TLL |
| Spanish: | hurón | n | ferret | TLL |
| Old French: | biere | n | bier | AHD |
| offrir | vb | to offer | W7 | |
| poroffrir | vb | to offer | W7 | |
| souffrir | vb | to suffer | W7 | |
| Anglo-French: | profrer | vb | to offer, present | W7 |
| Middle French: | circumference | n.fem | circumference | W7 |
| deferer, defferer | vb | to bring down to someone | W7 | |
| differer | vb | to postpone, be different | W7 | |
| fertile | adj | fertile | W7 | |
| fortune | n.fem | chance, fortune | W7 | |
| furet | n.masc | ferret | W7 | |
| inferer | vb | to infer | W7 | |
| metaphore | n.fem | metaphor | W7 | |
| périphérie | n.fem | periphery | W7 | |
| préférer | vb | to prefer | W7 | |
| French: | bière | n | bier | CDC |
| efférent | adj | to be carried outward | W7 | |
| -fère | adj.sfx | (production) | W7 | |
| furet | n | ferret | TLL | |
| furtif | adj | furtive | W7 | |
| furtive | adj.fem | furtive | W7 | |
| offrir | vb | to offer | W7 | |
| Old Occitan: | bera | n | bier | CDC |
| Italian: | furetto | n | ferret | TLL |
| Baltic | ||||
| Lithuanian: | beriù | vb | to strew, pour out | GED |
| bérnas | n | son, boy | RPN | |
| Latvian: | bērns | n.masc | bairn | LRC |
| bẽrt | vb | to strew, pour out | GED | |
| Slavic | ||||
| Old Church Slavonic: | berǫ, beru | vb | to bear | GED |
| burja | n | storm | RPN | |
| sъborъ | n.masc | counsel, meeting | LRC | |
| Albanian | ||||
| Albanian: | bie | vb | to bring | GED |
| bir | n | son | GED/RPN | |
| burrë | n | man | RPN | |
| Hellenic | ||||
| Mycenaean: | pere | vb | to bear | GED |
| Homeric Greek: | φέρτε | vb.2.pl.imp | carry! | GED |
| φέρω | vb | to bear, bring, endure | LRC | |
| Greek: | amphiphoreus | n.masc | amphora | W7 |
| amphoreus | n.masc | amphora | W7 | |
| anapherein | vb | to refer, carry back | W7 | |
| anaphora | n.fem | act of carrying back, reference | W7 | |
| diaphorein | vb | to dissipate by perspiration | W7 | |
| diaphorēsis | n.fem | diaphoresis | W7 | |
| euphoria | n.fem | vigour | W7 | |
| euphoros | adj | healthy, vigorous | W7 | |
| théretron | n | bier, litter | CDC | |
| metapherein | vb | to transfer | W7 | |
| metaphora | n.fem | metaphor | W7 | |
| parapherna | n.neut.pl | goods a bride brings over/above dowry | W7 | |
| periphereia | n.fem | periphery | W7 | |
| φέρειν | vb | to bear, carry, endure, give birth | GED | |
| phernē | n.fem | dowry | W7 | |
| phorein | vb | to carry, wear | W7 | |
| phoreus | n.masc | bearer | W7 | |
| phorēsis | n.fem | act of carrying | W7 | |
| -phoros | sfx | carrying | W7 | |
| φορτίον | n | load, burden, child in womb | RPN | |
| φῡ́ρω | vb | to mix | RPN | |
| phōsphoros | adj | light-bearing | W7 | |
| Late Greek: | anaphora | n.fem | anaphora, figure of style | W7 |
| Armenian | ||||
| Classical Armenian: | bari | adj | good | LRC |
| Armenian: | berem | vb | to bear | GED/RPN |
| buṙn | n | violence | RPN | |
| Iranian | ||||
| Old Persian: | barantiy | vb.3.pl | they bear | GED |
| Avestan: | baraiti | vb | to bear | GED |
| Indic | ||||
| Vedic: | bhárti | vb | to bear | GED |
| Sanskrit: | bíbharti | vb | to bear | GED |
| bhárati | vb | to bear, suffer, give birth | GED/RPN | |
| bháriman- | adj/n | supporting; family | RPN | |
| bhuráti | vb | to stir, move rapidly | RPN | |
| bhurváṇi-ḥ | adj | restless, excited | RPN | |
| bhṛtá-ḥ | vb.pass.past.ptc | borne, brought, carried | RPN | |
| bhri | vb | to bear | ASD | |
| bhriti | n | birth | CDC | |
| bhriyáte | vb.pass | to be borne | RPN | |
| Tocharian | ||||
| Tocharian: | pär- | vb | to bear | GED |
| Tocharian A: | pärtär | vb.3.sg | bears | GED |
Key to Part-of-Speech/Grammatical feature abbreviations:
| Abbrev. | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | = | 2nd person |
| 3 | = | 3rd person |
| IV | = | class 4 |
| adj | = | adjective |
| dep | = | deponent |
| dim | = | diminutive |
| fem | = | feminine (gender) |
| imp | = | imperative (mood) |
| intrans | = | intransitive |
| masc | = | masculine (gender) |
| n | = | noun |
| neut | = | neuter (gender) |
| pass | = | passive (voice) |
| past | = | past (tense) |
| pfx | = | prefix |
| pl | = | plural (number) |
| prop | = | proper |
| ptc | = | participle |
| sfx | = | suffix |
| sg | = | singular (number) |
| str | = | strong (inflection) |
| trans | = | transitive |
| vb | = | verb |
| wk | = | weak (inflection) |
Key to information Source codes (always with 'LRC' as editor):
| Code | Citation | |
|---|---|---|
| AHD | = | Calvert Watkins: The American Heritage Dictionary of Indo-European Roots, 2nd ed. (2000) |
| ASD | = | Joseph Bosworth and T. Northcote Toller: An Anglo-Saxon Dictionary (1898) |
| CDC | = | W.D. Whitney and B.E. Smith: The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia (1889-1911) |
| CGo | = | MacDonald Stearns, Jr: Crimean Gothic (1978) |
| ELD | = | Charlton T. Lewis: An Elementary Latin Dictionary (1999) |
| GED | = | Winfred P. Lehmann: A Gothic Etymological Dictionary (1986) |
| KDW | = | Gerhard Köbler: Althochdeutsches Wörterbuch, 4th ed. (1993) |
| LRC | = | Linguistics Research Center, University of Texas, Austin |
| MEV | = | J.R.R. Tolkien: A Middle English Vocabulary (1922) |
| RPN | = | Allan R. Bomhard: Reconstructing Proto-Nostratic (2002) |
| TLL | = | Frederick Bodmer: The Loom of Language (1944) |
| W7 | = | Webster's Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary (1963) |
