*þurstu

Reconstruction

Wiktionary reconstructs *þurstu for Proto-West Germanic.^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Germanic *þurstuz (“thirst”),^[1][2] which Kroonen cites as the masculine *þurstu- and Orel as *þurstuz.^[2][3] EWA finds that the unmutated and mutated forms side by side point to a u-stem *þurs-tu- in Proto-Germanic, built on the zero grade of the root.^[4] Kroonen takes it for a tu-stem derived from the verb *þersan-.^[2]

Morphology

A masculine noun.^[2] In West Germanic the u-stem partly passed into the i-stems, as in Old English þyrst beside þurst, Middle Low German dörst and Middle Dutch derst.^[4] Kroonen says that it was replaced by a ti-stem in Old English.^[2] Köbler gives Old English, Old Frisian and Old Dutch as i-stems,^[5][6][7] while EWA leaves open whether Old High German durst was an i-stem or an a-stem, since the word is not found in the plural.^[4]

Evidence

EWA finds the masculine spread over the whole of Germanic.^[4] It is attested in Old English þurst, also þyrst,^[2] Old Frisian thorst,^[6] Old Saxon thurst in the Heliand,^[8] Old Dutch thurst, with the dative ⟨thursti⟩ in the Old Low Franconian psalms of the 10th century and the accusative ⟨thurst⟩ in the Middle Franconian Rhyme Bible,^[9] and Old High German durst.^[4]

Competing analyses

Orel bases *þurstuz on an unattested adjective *þurstaz "thirsty", after Heidermanns,^[3] and Casaretto too takes the adjective, which is found in Germanic only through its derivatives, to lie behind the West Germanic nouns, from Proto-Germanic *þurstu-.^[10] EWA, which takes the masculine for a u-stem, explains Gothic 𐌸𐌰𐌿𐍂𐍃𐍄𐌴𐌹 (þaurstei) rather as an abstract noun formed on such an adjective, and finds that the n-stems such as Old Norse þorsti point to it too.^[4]

Meanings

1. thirst^[1][2]

Old High German also used the word for "glow, heat".^[4]

Derivatives

• *þurstijan "to thirst, to be thirsty", which Wiktionary reconstructs;^[1] Kroonen traces the denominal impersonal verbs Old English þyrstan, Old Saxon thurstian and Old High German dursten "to be thirsty" to Proto-Germanic *þurstjan-.^[2]

Reflexes

• Old English: þurst (“thirst”)^[5]
• Old Frisian: thorst (“thirst”)^[6]
• Old Saxon: thurst (“thirst”)^[8]
• Old Dutch: thurst (“thirst”)^[9]
• Old High German: durst (“thirst, glow, heat”)^[4]

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org, p. s.v. *þurstu
2. ^ a b c d e f g h Kroonen, Guus (2013), Etymological Dictionary of Proto-Germanic, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 11, Leiden / Boston: Brill, p. 553
3. ^ a b Orel, Vladimir (2003), A Handbook of Germanic Etymology, Leiden / Boston: Brill, p. 430
4. ^ a b c d e f g h 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. durst
5. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2014), Altenglisches Wörterbuch, 4th ed., online, koeblergerhard.de/wikiling, p. s.v. þurst
6. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2014), Altfriesisches Wörterbuch, 4th ed., online, koeblergerhard.de/wikiling, p. s.v. thorst
7. ^ Köbler, Gerhard, Altniederfränkisches Wörterbuch, online, koeblergerhard.de/wikiling, p. s.v. thurst
8. ^ a b Berr, Samuel (1971), An Etymological Glossary to the Old Saxon Heliand, Berne / Frankfurt: Herbert Lang, p. 422
9. ^ a b Oudnederlands Woordenboek (2009–), Instituut voor de Nederlandse Taal, Leiden; gtb.ivdnt.org, p. s.v. thurst
10. ^ Casaretto, Antje (2004), Nominale Wortbildung der gotischen Sprache: Die Derivation der Substantive, Heidelberg: Winter