къ

Forms

къ (kŭ)^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Slavic *kъ(n) (“to, towards”).^[1][2][3] The same preposition is Russian к (k), Czech k, Slovak k, Polish ku, Serbo-Croatian k, Slovene k, Bulgarian към (kǎm) and Macedonian кон (kon); in Polish ku had driven out k by the early 18th century.^[2][4][3]

Sadnik and Aitzetmüller derive it from Proto-Indo-European *kom, the source of the particle Sanskrit कम् (kám), which follows a dative.^[5][4][1] Derksen thinks this kinship possible, and Vasmer and Wiktionary add Avestan kąm (“for the sake of”).^[5][2][4][1] Some scholars have also connected Latin cum (“with”) and Old Irish com- (“with”), which are usually traced to a form with a palatal *ḱ- instead.^[4][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

It takes the dative and renders Ancient Greek πρός (prós, “to, towards”) in all the canonical manuscripts, as in азъ къ отьцю грѧдѫ “I am going to the Father” (J 14, 12 in the Zographensis, Marianus, Assemanianus and Savvina kniga).^[6][7]

Semantic evolution

Besides motion towards a person, thing or place, the SJS records it after verbs of speaking (alternating with the plain dative), of believing and hoping (“in”), and of adding; and, by imitation of Greek, rarely for position near a person.^[7] It also expresses time (“towards, before”: къ сѫботѣ “before the sabbath”), purpose (къ жѧтвѣ “ready for harvest”, J 4, 35), relation (“with regard to”) and accordance (“according to”, for κατά).^[7] Къ томоу and къ семоу mean “further, moreover”.^[8] The SNSP counts more than 1,000 occurrences.^[6]

Meanings

Preposition

1. With the dative: to, towards a person, thing or place; for πρός, εἰς, ἐπί.^[7][6][1][9]
2. Towards, before (in time); for πρός, πρίν.^[7][6]
3. For, for the purpose of; for πρός, εἰς.^[7]
4. With regard to.^[7]
5. According to; for κατά.^[7]

Related words

• Russian к (k)

Usage notes

Miklosich lists separately a къ that is the pronominal stem of къто.^[8]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c Derksen, Rick (2008), Etymological Dictionary of the Slavic Inherited Lexicon, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 4, Leiden / Boston: Brill, p. 259
3. ^ a b Trubačev, Oleg N.; Žuravlev, Anatolij F.; Varbot, Žanna Ž. (eds.) (1974–2021), Ètimologičeskij slovar' slavjanskix jazykov: praslavjanskij leksičeskij fond, vols. 1–42, Moskva: Nauka, p. 13, 170
4. ^ a b c d Vasmer, Max (1964–1973), Ètimologičeskij slovar' russkogo jazyka, transl. and suppl. by O. N. Trubačev, 4 vols., Moskva: Progress, p. 2, 146–147
5. ^ a b Sadnik, Linda; Aitzetmüller, Rudolf (1955), Handwörterbuch zu den altkirchenslavischen Texten, Heidelberg: Winter / 's-Gravenhage: Mouton, p. 258
6. ^ 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
7. ^ a b c d e f g h Kurz, Josef; Hauptová, Zoe (eds.) (1958–1997), Slovník jazyka staroslověnského / Lexicon linguae palaeoslovenicae, 4 vols. + supplements, Praha: Academia; digital ed. gorazd.org
8. ^ a b Miklosich, Franz (1862–1865), Lexicon palaeoslovenico-graeco-latinum emendatum auctum, Vindobonae: Braumüller
9. ^ Sadnik, Linda; Aitzetmüller, Rudolf (1955), Handwörterbuch zu den altkirchenslavischen Texten, Heidelberg: Winter / 's-Gravenhage: Mouton, p. 49