*wardō

Reconstruction

The noun is *wardō in Köbler and Wiktionary,^[1][2] *warđō(n) in Orel^[3] and *warđō in LÄGLOS, which gives its Proto-Norse form as *warđu.^[4]

Etymology

Köbler connects it from Proto-Indo-European *u̯er- (“to perceive, to heed”).^[1] Orel relates it to his masculine *warđaz "warden, guard", which he explains as a participle *u̯or-tó- of an unattested verb, comparing *waraz.^[3] Wiktionary calls it a nominal formation related to *wardaz (“guard”).^[2]

Morphology

A feminine ō-stem.^[1] Orel's *warđō(n) allows an n-stem beside it,^[3] and Gothic has both in one compound: Gothic 𐌳𐌰𐌿𐍂𐌰𐍅𐌰𐍂𐌳𐌰 (daurawarda), only in the dative singular at John 18:16, and Gothic 𐌳𐌰𐌿𐍂𐌰𐍅𐌰𐍂𐌳𐍉 (daurawardo) at John 18:17, both "female doorkeeper".^[5][6] Old Norse varða is a weak feminine,^[7] and Old English weard in this sense is both masculine and feminine.^[8]

Evidence

Orel lists reflexes from all three branches: the compound Gothic 𐌳𐌰𐌿𐍂𐌰𐍅𐌰𐍂𐌳𐌰 (daurawarda), Old Norse varða, Old English weard, Old Saxon warda and Old High German warta.^[3] Gothic has the word only in the compound with "door".^[5] Finnish vartija (“guard, watchman”) is a Germanic loan, but LÄGLOS names several possible sources, among them *warđō and the related masculines *warđaz and *warđuz.^[4]

Meanings

1. attention, heed^[1][2]
2. protection, care^[2]
3. watch post, lookout^[2]

Old English also used the word for "outpost" and "ambush",^[8] Old High German for a lookout or watchtower,^[9] and Old Norse for a cairn of stones marking a road.^[7][3]

Derivatives

• *wardāną "to guard, to protect, to watch over", which Wiktionary derives from *warduz "a guard" or from *wardō.^[10] Orel's *warđōjanan is the same verb, derived from *warđaz or *warđō(n).^[3]

Reflexes

• Gothic: 𐌳𐌰𐌿𐍂𐌰𐍅𐌰𐍂𐌳𐌰 (daurawarda, “female doorkeeper”), only in this compound^[5]
• Old Norse: varða (“cairn used as a road sign, lookout”)^[7]
• Old English: weard (“watch, guard, protection, outpost”)^[8]
• Old Saxon: warda (“watch, guard post”)^[11]
• Old High German: warta (“watch, lookout, watchtower”)^[9]

References

1. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2014), Germanisches Wörterbuch, 5th ed., online, koeblergerhard.de/wikiling, p. s.v. *wardō
2. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org, p. s.v. *wardō
3. ^ a b c d e f Orel, Vladimir (2003), A Handbook of Germanic Etymology, Leiden / Boston: Brill, p. 448
4. ^ a b Kylstra, A. D.; Hahmo, Sirkka-Liisa; Hofstra, Tette; Nikkilä, Osmo (1991–2012), Lexikon der älteren germanischen Lehnwörter in den ostseefinnischen Sprachen, 3 vols, Amsterdam / Atlanta / New York: Rodopi, p. 379
5. ^ a b c 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. 117
6. ^ Köbler, Gerhard (2014), Gotisches Wörterbuch, 4th ed., online, koeblergerhard.de/wikiling, p. s.v. daúrawarda
7. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard, Altnordisches Wörterbuch, online, koeblergerhard.de/wikiling (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary database copy), p. s.v. varða
8. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2014), Altenglisches Wörterbuch, 4th ed., online, koeblergerhard.de/wikiling, p. s.v. weard
9. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2014), Althochdeutsches Wörterbuch, 6th ed., online, koeblergerhard.de/wikiling, p. s.v. warta
10. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org, p. s.v. *wardāną
11. ^ Köbler, Gerhard (2014), Altsächsisches Wörterbuch, 5th ed., online, koeblergerhard.de/wikiling, p. s.v. warda