добръ
Forms
добръ (dobrŭ) (comparative добрѣи or лоучии or соулѣи or соул҄ии or оун҄ии); Glagolitic ⰴⱁⰱⱃⱏ[1]
Etymology
It is inherited from Proto-Slavic *dobrъ (“good”).[1][2] The same word is Russian до́брый (dóbryj), Bulgarian добър (dobăr), Serbo-Croatian dȍbar, Slovene dǫ́bər, Czech dobrý and Polish dobry.[2][3]
Derksen and Wiktionary take it as an adjective in *-ro- from Proto-Indo-European *dʰabʰ- (“to fit, to suit”), the root of Proto-Slavic *doba (“fitting time”) too.[2][1] Derksen compares the pair *doba and *dobrъ with *godъ (“right time”) beside Proto-Germanic *gōdaz (“good”), and cites Gothic 𐌲𐌰𐌳𐌰𐌱𐌰𐌽 (gadaban, “to happen, to be suitable”).[2] Sadnik and Aitzetmüller add Lithuanian daba (“nature, quality”) and dabinti (“to adorn”).[4][5] ESJS, under добль (“brave”), groups *dobrъ, *dobľь and *doba under the same root.[5] Vasmer compares Latin faber (“craftsman”) and an Armenian word for a smith, from *dʰabʰro-, and Sadnik and Aitzetmüller list faber too,[3][4] while Wiktionary finds the link with faber not clearly convincing and cites Latvian dabravecis (“brave, prudent man”).[1] Vasmer also sets beside it a root without aspiration in Old High German tapfar (“brave, strong”).[3]
Earliest recorded meaning
The adjective translates Ancient Greek ἀγαθός (agathós) and Ancient Greek καλός (kalós) in the Gospels: добръꙇ чловѣкъ отъ добрааго съкровишта • ꙇзноситъ добраа “the good man brings forth good things out of the good treasure” (Mt 12, 35 Zogr Mar As Ostr), where the Savvina kniga has благъ instead.[6] Christ calls himself пастꙑрь добрꙑ “the good shepherd” (J 10, 14 Zogr Mar As Sav).[7]
Semantic evolution
Besides good in a moral and practical sense, rendering a wide range of Greek adjectives such as χρηστός, ἄξιος and ἀνδρεῖος, the canonical texts use it for beautiful or perfect things, for καλός and περικαλλής (Gn 6, 2, ѣко добрꙑ сѫтъ of the daughters of men).[6] Its comparative is добрѣи, and Wiktionary also lists other comparatives such as лоучии and оун҄ии.[7][1] The SNSP records the phrases доброѥ дѣло for κατόρθωμα and добрꙑи мѫченикъ for καλλίμαρτυς.[7] In Church Slavonic Giltebrandt lists it for καλός and ἀγαθός in the New Testament.[8]
Timeline
- End of the 9th – beginning of the 10th century – the Euchologium Sinaiticum uses добръ for καλός and ἀγαθός.[9]
- 14th century – the Serbian Athonite translation of Gregory of Nyssa uses it for καλός.[9]
Meanings
Adjective
Word family
- добро
- добровониѥ
- добродѣꙗниѥ
- добрость
- доброта
- доброчьстиѥ
- доброличьнъ
- доброобразьнъ
- добропотрѣбьнъ
- доброразоумивъ
- доброродьнъ
- доброчьстивъ
- добродѣꙗти
- доброприимати
Related words
- добль
- подоба
- Russian до́брый (dóbryj)
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
- ^ a b c d Derksen, Rick (2008), Etymological Dictionary of the Slavic Inherited Lexicon, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 4, Leiden / Boston: Brill, p. 110
- ^ a b c Vasmer, Max (1964–1973), Ètimologičeskij slovar' russkogo jazyka, transl. and suppl. by O. N. Trubačev, 4 vols., Moskva: Progress, p. 1, 520
- ^ a b Sadnik, Linda; Aitzetmüller, Rudolf (1955), Handwörterbuch zu den altkirchenslavischen Texten, Heidelberg: Winter / 's-Gravenhage: Mouton, p. 228
- ^ a b Havlová, Eva; Erhart, Adolf; Janyšková, Ilona (eds.) (1989–2022), Etymologický slovník jazyka staroslověnského, 21 fascicles, Praha: Academia / Brno: Tribun EU
- ^ a b c d Kurz, Josef; Hauptová, Zoe (eds.) (1958–1997), Slovník jazyka staroslověnského / Lexicon linguae palaeoslovenicae, 4 vols. + supplements, Praha: Academia; digital ed. gorazd.org
- ^ a b c d Slovník nejstarších staroslověnských památek (digital ed., Gorazd, Slovanský ústav AV ČR, gorazd.org); cf. Cejtlin, R. M.; Večerka, R.; Blagova, É. (eds.) (1994), Staroslavjanskij slovar' (po rukopisjam X–XI vekov), Moskva: Russkij jazyk
- ^ Gil'tebrandt, P. A. (1882–1885), Spravočnyj i ob''jasnitel'nyj slovar' k Novomu Zavetu, 6 vols., Sankt-Peterburg
- ^ a b SlaVaComp Metaglossar Griechisch–Kirchenslavisch, Universität Freiburg, slavistik-portal.de