*uz

Reconstruction

The word is *uz in Kroonen, Orel and Wiktionary;^[1][2][3] Köbler writes *us or *uz, and the prefix *uz-, as Wiktionary does.^[4][5]

Etymology

Wiktionary derives it from PIE *úd-s "up, off", from Proto-Indo-European *úd (“out, outward”).^[3] Kroonen also takes it as the adverb *ud, the source of *ūt, with a genitive ending,^[1] and Orel as probably *ut-s, related to *ūt.^[2] Köbler calls the etymology unknown.^[4]

Morphology

A preposition and a prefix.^[6] As an unstressed particle it underwent Verner's law, hence the z.^[3] In Gothic the z is kept before a vowel, as in Gothic 𐌿𐌶𐌿𐌷 (uzuh), and assimilated to ur- before r.^[7][7][6]

Evidence

As a preposition the word survives in Gothic 𐌿𐍃 (us) and in North Germanic, Old Norse ór, úr.^[1] West Germanic has it mainly as a prefix: Old English or-, Old Frisian ur-, Old Saxon ur-, and Old High German ur, which Old High German also uses as a preposition.^[2][6] Lehmann counts Gothic 𐌿𐍃 (us) as the 19th most frequent Gothic word.^[6]

Competing analyses

Wiktionary also allows, for the prefix, a source in PIE *h₂u-s- "off, from", related to Latin au- and Sanskrit अव- (ava-, “off, down”).^[5] Lehmann thinks that connection possible,^[6] while Feist held it to be quite doubtful.^[7]

Meanings

1. out of^[1][2][4][3]
2. as a prefix: up, out^[5]

In Old English the prefix also meant "primeval" and "without, -less".^[8]

Derivatives

• *uzsōkijaną, formed with the prefix from *sōkijaną "to seek".^[9]

Reflexes

• Gothic: 𐌿𐍃 (us, “out of”)^[7]
• Old Norse: ór (“out of, from”), also úr; the prefix ør-^[10][11]
• Old English: or-, a prefix^[8]
• Old Frisian: ur-, a prefix^[12]
• Old Saxon: ur- (“out”), a prefix^[13]
• Old High German: ur, also ir-, ar-^[14]

References

1. ^ a b c d Kroonen, Guus (2013), Etymological Dictionary of Proto-Germanic, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 11, Leiden / Boston: Brill, p. 563
2. ^ a b c d Orel, Vladimir (2003), A Handbook of Germanic Etymology, Leiden / Boston: Brill, p. s.v. *uz
3. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org, p. s.v. *uz
4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2014), Germanisches Wörterbuch, 5th ed., online, koeblergerhard.de/wikiling, p. s.v. *us
5. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org, p. s.v. *uz-
6. ^ 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. s.v. us
7. ^ a b c d Feist, Sigmund (1939), Vergleichendes Wörterbuch der gotischen Sprache, 3rd ed., Leiden: Brill, p. s.v. us
8. ^ a b Holthausen, Ferdinand (1934), Altenglisches etymologisches Wörterbuch, Heidelberg: Carl Winter, p. s.v. or-
9. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org, p. s.v. *uzsōkijaną
10. ^ Köbler, Gerhard, Altnordisches Wörterbuch, online, koeblergerhard.de/wikiling (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary database copy), p. s.v. ōr
11. ^ de Vries, Jan (1977), Altnordisches etymologisches Wörterbuch, 2nd ed., Leiden: Brill, p. s.v. ør-
12. ^ Hofmann, Dietrich; Popkema, Anne Tjerk (2008), Altfriesisches Handwörterbuch, Heidelberg: Carl Winter, p. s.v. ur-
13. ^ Köbler, Gerhard (2014), Altsächsisches Wörterbuch, 5th ed., online, koeblergerhard.de/wikiling, p. s.v. ur
14. ^ Köbler, Gerhard (2014), Althochdeutsches Wörterbuch, 6th ed., online, koeblergerhard.de/wikiling, p. s.v. ir