кꙑи
Forms
кꙑи (kyi)[1] The feminine is каꙗ and the neuter коѥ.[2][3]
Etymology
It is inherited from Proto-Slavic *kъjь (“which”), an interrogative pronoun built from the interrogative stem *kъ (“who”) and the anaphoric pronoun *jь.[4][1][5] The same word is Russian кой (koj), Ukrainian кий (kyj), Bulgarian кой (koj), Macedonian кој (koj), Serbo-Croatian kòjī, Slovene kí, Czech ký, Slovak ký and Polish ki.[6][5][1]
That stem goes back to Proto-Balto-Slavic *kos and Proto-Indo-European *kʷo-, the source of Lithuanian kàs (“who, which”), Sanskrit क (ká, “who, which”) and Gothic 𐍈𐌰𐍃 (ƕas, “who”).[6] Wiktionary compares the formation with Ancient Greek ποῖος (poîos) and Latin cuius, and suggests that Proto-Slavic *čьjь may be the same word made piece by piece.[1] Vasmer doubts that Lithuanian kur̃s (“which”) belongs here.[5]
Earliest recorded meaning
In the oldest Gospel manuscripts it is the interrogative “which, what kind of”, for Ancient Greek ποῖος (poîos) and Ancient Greek τίς (tís), as in не вѣсте въ кѫѭ годинѫ г‹оспод›ь вашь придетъ “you do not know at what hour your Lord comes” (Mt 24, 42), in the Codex Zographensis, the Codex Marianus, the Codex Assemanianus, the Savvina kniga and the Ostromir Gospel.[2]
Semantic evolution
The canonical texts use it in three ways: as an interrogative, as an indefinite “some, a certain”, for τις, and as a relative “which, who”, for ὅς.[7][2][3] The SJS notes that the oldest codices often have етеръ where later texts use the indefinite кꙑи, and that Jagić took етеръ to be the older usage.[2] With любо it means “whichever, any”, for οἷος δήποτε, and the conjunction по кои means “after, as soon as”.[2][7] Its derivatives and compounds include кꙑижьдо “each”, нѣкꙑи “some” and никꙑиже “none”.[7]
Miklosich records shortened forms in later texts, such as ка and ко for каꙗ and коѥ, and цѣмь for кꙑимь.[8] The accusative feminine survives in Church Slavonic and Russian вскую “why”, from OCS въскѫѭ.[9]
Meanings
Pronoun
- (interrogative) which, what kind of; for τίς, ποῖος.[2][3][1]
- (indefinite) Some, a certain, any; for τις.[2][3]
- (relative) Which, who; for ὅς.[2]
- (in по кои) After, as soon as; for ἀφ’ οὗ.[2]
Word family
- кꙑижьдо
- нѣкꙑи
- никꙑиже
- въскѫѭ
Related words
- къто
- каковъ
- Russian кой (koj)
Usage notes
Miklosich also lists a noun кꙑи “hammer, cudgel” from later texts, a different word, which Vasmer relates to Lithuanian kū́jis (“hammer”) and the verb for forging.[8][10]
References
- ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
- ^ a b c d e f g h i 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
- ^ Sławski, Franciszek; Boryś, Wiesław et al. (eds.) (1974–2024), Słownik prasłowiański, vols. I–VIII, X–XI, Wrocław: Ossolineum / Warszawa: Instytut Slawistyki PAN
- ^ a b c Vasmer, Max (1964–1973), Ètimologičeskij slovar' russkogo jazyka, transl. and suppl. by O. N. Trubačev, 4 vols., Moskva: Progress, p. 2, 280
- ^ a b Derksen, Rick (2008), Etymological Dictionary of the Slavic Inherited Lexicon, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 4, Leiden / Boston: Brill, p. 260
- ^ a b c Havlová, Eva; Erhart, Adolf; Janyšková, Ilona (eds.) (1989–2022), Etymologický slovník jazyka staroslověnského, 21 fascicles, Praha: Academia / Brno: Tribun EU, p. 388
- ^ a b Miklosich, Franz (1862–1865), Lexicon palaeoslovenico-graeco-latinum emendatum auctum, Vindobonae: Braumüller
- ^ Vasmer, Max (1964–1973), Ètimologičeskij slovar' russkogo jazyka, transl. and suppl. by O. N. Trubačev, 4 vols., Moskva: Progress, p. 1, 363
- ^ Vasmer, Max (1964–1973), Ètimologičeskij slovar' russkogo jazyka, transl. and suppl. by O. N. Trubačev, 4 vols., Moskva: Progress, p. 2, 231