*fram

Reconstruction

The word is *fram in Wiktionary,^[1] *frama in Orel,^[2] and the adverb *framan in EWA.^[3]

Etymology

Wiktionary has it from Proto-Indo-European *pro- (“forth, forward”).^[1] EWA sets the adverb equal to Umbrian promom (“first”), both from the PIE accusative neuter *promóm used as an adverb, a derivative in the superlative suffix *-mó- of the preposition *pro "before".^[3] Lehmann likewise derives it from Gothic 𐍆𐍂𐌰- (fra-) with a suffix -m-, PIE *pro-mo-.^[4]

Morphology

An adverb, also used as a preposition with the dative.^[3][4] There are comparatives Gothic 𐍆𐍂𐌰𐌼𐌹𐍃 (framis, “farther”)^[4] and Old Norse fremr.^[3]

Evidence

The word is attested in all three branches: Gothic 𐍆𐍂𐌰𐌼 (fram), Old Norse frá and Old Norse fram, and Old English fram, Old Saxon fram and Old High German fram in West Germanic.^[2] EWA explains the Scandinavian preposition, Old Norse frá (“away from”), by a proclitic development of *fram, and Old Swedish frān as a cross of *frā and *fran.^[3]

Competing analyses

EWA connects the senses through the idea of pressing forward: the adverb means "forward", the preposition marks the starting point, "away from".^[3] Lehmann rejects a connection with Old Irish riam (“beforehand”).^[4]

Meanings

1. forth, forward; away, further^[1][3]
2. from; by, due to^[1][2]

Derivatives

• *framaz "forward, prominent", the related adjective,^[1][2] which EWA derives from the PIE adjective *promó-, like Ancient Greek πρόμος (prómos, “champion, leader”).^[3]
• *framōną "to advance, to benefit", from *fram or *framaz.^[5]
• *frumjaną "to perform, to promote".^[6]
• *framaþiz "foreign", related to *framaz and *fram.^[7]

Reflexes

• Gothic: 𐍆𐍂𐌰𐌼 (fram, “from, at, by; farther”)^[4]
• Old Norse: fram (“forward”)^[8]
• Old English: fram (“from, by, since”)^[9]
• Old Saxon: fram (“forth, away, out of, from”)^[10]
• Old High German: fram (“forward”)^[3]

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org, p. s.v. *fram
2. ^ a b c d Orel, Vladimir (2003), A Handbook of Germanic Etymology, Leiden / Boston: Brill, p. 111
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Lloyd, Albert L.; Springer, Otto; Lühr, Rosemarie, et al. (1988–), Etymologisches Wörterbuch des Althochdeutschen, Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht; online ewa.saw-leipzig.de, p. s.v. fram
4. ^ a b c d e Lehmann, Winfred P. (1986), A Gothic Etymological Dictionary, based on the third edition of Vergleichendes Wörterbuch der gotischen Sprache by Sigmund Feist, Leiden: Brill, p. F78
5. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org, p. s.v. *framōną
6. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org, p. s.v. *frumjaną
7. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org, p. s.v. *framaþiz
8. ^ de Vries, Jan (1977), Altnordisches etymologisches Wörterbuch, 2nd ed., Leiden: Brill, p. 139
9. ^ Holthausen, Ferdinand (1934), Altenglisches etymologisches Wörterbuch, Heidelberg: Carl Winter, p. s.v. fram
10. ^ Köbler, Gerhard (2014), Altsächsisches Wörterbuch, 5th ed., online, koeblergerhard.de/wikiling, p. s.v. fram