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. g̑hel-, and ghel-?, also as i-, u-, or n-stem; g̑helə-, g̑hlē-, g̑hlō-, g̑hlə- 'to shine, glare, glow; gold, yellow, bright color'
Semantic Field(s): to Shine, Glisten
Indo-European Reflexes:
| Family/Language | Reflex(es) | PoS/Gram. | Gloss | Source(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Celtic | ||||
| Old Irish: | gel | adj/n | white | GED |
| glan | adj | clean | GED | |
| glass | adj | blue, green | RPN | |
| glé | adj | clear | RPN | |
| English | ||||
| Old English: | (g)ealla | n.masc | gall | ASD/W7 |
| geolo, geolu | adj | yellow | GED | |
| glæd | adj | glad, cheerful, bright, brilliant | RPN | |
| glǣm | n.masc | gleam, brilliant light | ASD/RPN | |
| glæs | n.neut | glass | ASD/W7 | |
| glēaw | adj | wise, prudent, sagacious | LRC | |
| glēd | n.fem | gleed | ASD | |
| glida | n.masc | glede: kite | W7 | |
| glīdan | vb.str | to glide, slip | ASD/RPN | |
| glidder | adj | slippery | RPN | |
| glisian | vb | to glitter | RPN | |
| glisnian | vb.wk | to glisten | ASD/W7 | |
| glōm | n | gloom, twilight | RPN | |
| glōming, glōm(m)ung | n.fem | gloaming, darkness | ASD/W7 | |
| glōwan | vb | to glow | RPN | |
| gold | n.neut | gold | LRC | |
| gyldan | vb.wk | to gild | ASD/W7 | |
| Middle English: | arsenik | n | arsenic | AHD |
| coler | n | choler | W7 | |
| colera | n | bile | W7 | |
| felon | adj | felon | W7 | |
| gall | n | gall | W7 | |
| gilden | vb | to gild | W7 | |
| glad | adj | glad | W7 | |
| glaren | vb | to glare | W7 | |
| glas | n | glass | W7 | |
| glasen | vb | to glaze | W7 | |
| glede | n | glede: kite | W7 | |
| gleed | n | gleed | W7 | |
| gleem | n | gleam | W7 | |
| gleg | adj | gleg | W7 | |
| glenten, glinten | vb | to glint, dart obliquely | W7 | |
| gliden | vb | to glide | W7 | |
| glimeren | vb | to glimmer | W7 | |
| glimsen | vb | to glimpse | W7 | |
| glistnen | vb | to glisten | W7 | |
| glistren | vb | to glister | W7 | |
| gliteren | vb | to glitter | W7 | |
| glouten | vb | to glout | IEW | |
| glowen | vb | to glow | W7 | |
| gold | n | gold | W7 | |
| golden | adj | golden | W7 | |
| gollan | n | daisy | W7 | |
| malencolie | n | melancholy | W7 | |
| yelow, yelwe | adj | yellow | W7 | |
| English: | acholia | n | lack/deficiency of bile | AHD |
| arsenic | n | highly poisonous metallic element | AHD | |
| chloasma | n | brownish skin discoloration | AHD | |
| chlorine | n | greenish-yellow halogen gas | W7 | |
| chlorite | n | green monoclinic mineral resembling mica | AHD/W7 | |
| chlor(o)- | pfx | green; chlorine | AHD/W7 | |
| chol(e)- | pfx | bile, gall | AHD | |
| choler | n | yellow bile | AHD/W7 | |
| cholera | n | disease marked by severe gastrointestinal distress | AHD/W7 | |
| felon | adj | cruel, evil | AHD/W7 | |
| gall | n | bile; rancor, bitterness | AHD/W7 | |
| gild, gilt | vb.wk.trans | to overlay with thin gold covering | AHD/W7 | |
| glabella | n | smooth prominence between eyebrows | AHD/W7 | |
| glabrous | adj | smooth | AHD/W7 | |
| glad | adj | having naturally cheerful/happy disposition | AHD/W7 | |
| glance | n | mineral sulfide with metallic luster | AHD/W7 | |
| glare | vb | to shine with uncomfortably harsh/brilliant light | AHD/W7 | |
| glass | n | amorphous transparent/translucent inorganic substance | AHD/W7 | |
| glaze | vb | to fit/furnish with glass | AHD/W7 | |
| glazier | n | one who glazes, sets glass | AHD/W7 | |
| gleam | n | transient appearance of subdued/partly obscured light | AHD/W7 | |
| glede | n | gleed in Tolkien: The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings | LRC | |
| glede | n | kite: (European) bird of prey | AHD/W7 | |
| gleed | n | ember, live/glowing coal | AHD/W7 | |
| gleg | adj | quick, sharp | AHD/W7 | |
| glib | adj | smooth, slippery | AHD/W7 | |
| glide | vb | to move smoothly/effortlessly/continuously | AHD/W7 | |
| glimmer | vb.intrans | to shine faintly/unsteadily | AHD/W7 | |
| glimpse | vb | to glimmer | AHD/W7 | |
| glint | vb | to glance off | AHD/W7 | |
| glissade | vb.intrans | to slide down snow-covered slope without skis/other devices | AHD/W7 | |
| glisten | vb.intrans | to reflect light with mild luster/sparkling radiance | AHD/W7 | |
| glister | vb.intrans | to glisten | AHD/W7 | |
| glitch | n | minor mishap/problem/malfunction | AHD | |
| glitter | vb.intrans | to reflect light with brilliant/metallic luster | AHD/W7 | |
| glitz | n | flashiness, ostentatious showiness | AHD | |
| glitzy | adj | showy, flashy | AHD | |
| gloaming | n | dusk, twilight | AHD/W7 | |
| gloat | vb.intrans | to look/gaze admiringly/affectionately | AHD/W7 | |
| glogg | n | mulled wine, hot alcoholic punch | AHD | |
| Glóin | prop.n | dwarf in Tolkien: The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings | LRC | |
| gloom | n | darkness, dark place | W7 | |
| gloss | n | polish, superficial luster/brightness | AHD/W7 | |
| glout | vb | to scowl, frown | IEW/W7 | |
| glow | vb.intrans | to shine with intense heat | AHD/W7 | |
| glower | vb | to frown, look/stare sullenly | IEW/W7 | |
| gold | n | malleable ductile metal used in coins/jewelry/etc. | AHD/W7 | |
| Goldberry | prop.n | Bombadil's wife in Tolkien: The Lord of the Rings | LRC | |
| golden | adj | re: gold | W7 | |
| Goldwine | prop.n | 6th Rohan king in Tolkien: The Lord of the Rings | LRC | |
| gowan | n | daisy | AHD/W7 | |
| guilder | n | gold (florin) | AHD/W7 | |
| gulden | n | gold | W7 | |
| melancholy | n | abnormal state characterized by depression/irascibility | AHD/W7 | |
| yellow | adj | of color yellow | AHD/W7 | |
| zloty | n | unit of Polish currency | AHD/W7 | |
| Scots English: | gleg | adj | quick of perception | ASD |
| gloming | n | gloaming | W7 | |
| glowren | vb | to glower | W7 | |
| West Germanic | ||||
| Old Frisian: | glēd | n | gleed | ASD |
| glisa | vb | to shine, glisten | ASD | |
| gold | n.str.neut | gold | GED | |
| Middle Dutch: | gulden | adj | golden | W7 |
| Dutch: | gal | n.fem | gall | ASD |
| glas | n | glass | TLL | |
| goud | n | gold | TLL | |
| gulden | adj | golden | W7 | |
| Old Saxon: | galla | n.fem | gall | ASD |
| gelo | adj | yellow | GED | |
| glau | adj | wise, prudent, clear-sighted | ASD | |
| glīdan | vb | to glide, slip | RPN | |
| glōjan | vb | to glow | RPN | |
| gold | n.str.neut | gold | GED | |
| Low German: | glibberig | adj | slippery | W7 |
| Old High German: | galla | n.fem | gall | ASD |
| gelo | adj | yellow | GED/RPN | |
| glanz | adj | bright | W7 | |
| glas | n | glass, amber | KDW | |
| glat, clat | adj | bright, shiny; smooth, slippery | ASD/RPN | |
| glaw | adj | wise, prudent, clear-sighted | ASD | |
| gleimo | n | gleam, brightness | ASD | |
| glenzen | vb | to shine | RPN | |
| glītan | vb | to glide, slip | RPN | |
| glīzan | vb | to shine | AHD | |
| gluoen | vb | to glow | RPN | |
| gluot | n | gleed | ASD | |
| gold | n.str.neut | gold | GED | |
| Middle High German: | galle | n.fem | gall | ASD |
| glimsen | vb | to glimmer | W7 | |
| glīten | vb | to glide | AHD | |
| glitschen | vb | to glide | AHD | |
| glitzen | vb | to shine | AHD | |
| New High German: | glatt | adj | smooth, slippery | RPN |
| gleiten | vb | to glide, to slip, to slide | RPN | |
| German: | Chlorit | n | chlorite | W7 |
| Galle | n.fem | gall | ASD | |
| Glanz | n | glance; luster | W7 | |
| Glas | n | glass | TLL | |
| glau | adj | wise, prudent, clear-sighted | ASD | |
| glitzern | vb | to glitter | AHD | |
| gluth | n | gleed | ASD | |
| Gold | n.neut | gold | LRC | |
| Yiddish: | glitsh | n | slip, lapse, glitch | AHD |
| glitshn | vb | to glide, slip | AHD | |
| North Germanic | ||||
| Old Norse: | fingrgull | n.neut | ring, lit. finger-gold | GED |
| gall | n.neut | gall | ODE | |
| Glámr | prop.n.masc | Glam: ghost in Grettis saga | ICE | |
| gler | n | glass | KNW | |
| glitra | vb | to shine | W7 | |
| glotta | vb | to glout, grin scornfully | W7 | |
| glóa | vb | to glow, shine, glitter | LRC | |
| Glói(nn) | prop.n.masc | Gloin (Voluspa dwarf) | LRC | |
| glöggr | adj | clear-sighted | W7 | |
| gull | n.neut | gold | LRC | |
| Old Icelandic: | glaðr | adj | glad, cheerful | RPN |
| glámr | n.masc | moon | ICE/IEW | |
| glit | n | glitter | RPN | |
| gljá | vb | to shine, glisten | RPN | |
| glóa | vb | to glow, shine, glitter | RPN | |
| glóð | n | red-hot ember(s) | RPN | |
| glæa | vb | to glow, glisten | RPN | |
| gulr | adj | yellow | GED/RPN | |
| Icelandic: | gall | n.neut | gall | ASD |
| glaðr | adj | glad, bright | ASD | |
| gleða | n | glede, kite | ASD | |
| gler | n | glass | ASD | |
| glossa | vb | to glow | W7 | |
| glōð | n.fem | gleed | ASD | |
| glögr | adj | wise, prudent, clear-sighted | ASD | |
| gull | n | gold | ASD | |
| gylla | vb | to gild | ASD | |
| Norwegian: | glȳra | vb | to look askance | W7 |
| Danish: | galde | n.masc/fem | gall | ASD |
| glad | adj | glad | ASD | |
| glas | n | glass | TLL | |
| gul | adj | yellow | LRC | |
| guld | n | gold | TLL | |
| gulerod | n | carrot | TLL | |
| Swedish: | galle | n.masc | gall | ASD |
| glas | n | glass | TLL | |
| glinta | vb | to glide, slip | RPN | |
| glöd | n | ember | AHD | |
| glödga | vb | to mull (wine) | AHD | |
| glögg | n | glogg | AHD | |
| glänta | vb | to clear up | W7 | |
| guld | n | gold | TLL | |
| East Germanic | ||||
| Gothic: | figgra-gulþ | n.neut | ring, lit. finger-gold | GED |
| glaggwus | adj | diligent | ASD | |
| glitmunjan | vb.wk.I | to shine, glitter | LRC | |
| *gulþ | n.neut | gold | GED/RPN | |
| *gulþeins | adj | golden | GED | |
| Crimean Gothic: | *golþ, goltz | n | gold | CGo/GED |
| Italic | ||||
| Latin: | arsenicum | n | arsenic | AHD |
| chloritis | n.fem | a green stone | W7 | |
| cholera | n.fem | bilious disease | W7 | |
| fel, fellis | n.neut | gall | GED | |
| glabellus | adj | hairless, shaven | W7 | |
| glaber, glabra, glabrum | adj | hairless, shaven | W7 | |
| helvus | adj | light bay, (honey-)yellow | GED/RPN | |
| Late Latin: | melancholia | n.fem | melancholy | W7 |
| Medieval Latin: | fello | n.masc | villain, evildoer | W7 |
| Old French: | arsenik | n | arsenic | AHD |
| fel | n.masc | act of lying, cheating | W7 | |
| felon | adj | liar, evildoer | W7 | |
| glicier | vb | to slide | W7 | |
| Middle French: | colère | n.fem | anger | W7 |
| mélancolie | n.fem | melancholy | W7 | |
| French: | glissade | n.fem | action of sliding | W7 |
| glisser | vb | to slide | W7 | |
| Baltic | ||||
| Lithuanian: | žãlas | adj | red | RPN |
| žãlias | adj | green | GED/RPN | |
| žélti | vb | to become green | GED | |
| žìlas | adj | gray | RPN | |
| žlėjà | n | twilight | RPN | |
| Slavic | ||||
| Old Church Slavonic: | zelenъ | adj | green | GED/RPN |
| Albanian | ||||
| Albanian: | dhelpër | n | fox, lit. yellow one | GED |
| Hellenic | ||||
| Homeric Greek: | χόλος | n.masc | gall; wrath, anger | GED |
| χολόω | vb | to anger, enrage | LRC | |
| χολωτός | adj | angry, wrathful | LRC | |
| Greek: | arsenikon | n | yellow orpiment | AHD |
| melancholia | n.fem | melancholy | W7 | |
| chleuē | n.fem | joke | W7 | |
| χλωρός | adj | greenish yellow | GED/RPN | |
| cholera | n.fem | cholera, bilious disease | W7 | |
| χολή | n.fem | gall; wrath, anger | GED | |
| Iranian | ||||
| Old Iranian: | *zarna- | adj | golden | AHD |
| Old Persian: | daraniya | n | gold | GED |
| Middle Persian: | *zarnīk | n | yellow orpiment | AHD |
| Avestan: | zairina- | adj | green | GED |
| zairis | adj | yellow | GED | |
| zaranya- | n | gold | RPN | |
| Sogdian: | zyrn | n | gold | GED |
| Indic | ||||
| Sanskrit: | háris | adj | yellow, tawny | GED/RPN |
| híraṇya-ḥ | n | gold | RPN | |
Key to Part-of-Speech/Grammatical feature abbreviations:
| Abbrev. | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|
| I | = | class 1 |
| adj | = | adjective |
| fem | = | feminine (gender) |
| intrans | = | intransitive |
| masc | = | masculine (gender) |
| n | = | noun |
| neut | = | neuter (gender) |
| pfx | = | prefix |
| prop | = | proper |
| 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) |
| CGo | = | MacDonald Stearns, Jr: Crimean Gothic (1978) |
| GED | = | Winfred P. Lehmann: A Gothic Etymological Dictionary (1986) |
| ICE | = | Richard Cleasby and Gudbrand Vigfusson: An Icelandic-English Dictionary (1874) |
| IEW | = | Julius Pokorny: Indogermanisches etymologisches Wörterbuch (1959) |
| KDW | = | Gerhard Köbler: Althochdeutsches Wörterbuch, 4th ed. (1993) |
| KNW | = | Gerhard Köbler: Altnordisches Wörterbuch, 2nd ed. (2003) |
| LRC | = | Linguistics Research Center, University of Texas, Austin |
| ODE | = | C.T. Onions: The Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology (1966) |
| RPN | = | Allan R. Bomhard: Reconstructing Proto-Nostratic (2002) |
| TLL | = | Frederick Bodmer: The Loom of Language (1944) |
| W7 | = | Webster's Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary (1963) |
