*rekanōn

Reconstruction

Wiktionary reconstructs *rekanōn.^[1] Köbler's Old High German dictionary gives the same West Germanic form,^[2] and EWA writes *reka/inōi̯e/a-.^[3]

Etymology

It is formed from Proto-West Germanic *rekan² (“right, proper”) + *-ōn: EWA explains it as a factitive verb from the West Germanic adjective *reka/ina- "orderly, quick", with the basic meaning "to put in order",^[3] and Wiktionary analyses it the same way.^[1] The adjective survives in Old English recen (“ready, quick”) and Old Frisian rekon (“in order”).^[3]

Morphology

A weak verb of class II.^[4][5][3]

Evidence

The verb is attested as Old English recenian and gerecenian,^[4][6] Old Frisian rekenia,^[7] and Old High German rehhanōn, which is found only in Notker.^[3] EWA lists no Old Saxon or Old Dutch form, only the later Middle Low German and Middle Dutch verbs, and takes the Norse verbs for borrowings from Middle Low German.^[3]

Competing analyses

Köbler sets up *rekanōn, *reknōn for Proto-Germanic, from *reka-, *rekana-,^[8] while his Old High German dictionary and EWA call the verb West Germanic.^[2][3]

Meanings

1. to put in order^[3]
2. to count^[1][8]
3. to explain^[1][8]

Old English used the verb for "to arrange", "to count" and "to pay",^[3] Old Frisian for "to calculate", "to consider", "to set forth" and "to give account",^[7] and Notker for "to arrange, to prepare, to direct".^[3]

Reflexes

• Old English: recenian (“to explain, to report, to pay”)^[4]
• Old Frisian: rekenia (“to reckon, to calculate, to consider”)^[7]
• Old High German: rehhanōn (“to arrange, to prepare, to direct”)^[3]

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org, p. s.v. *rekanōn
2. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2014), Althochdeutsches Wörterbuch, 6th ed., online, koeblergerhard.de/wikiling, p. s.v. rehhanōn
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k 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. rechanôn
4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2014), Altenglisches Wörterbuch, 4th ed., online, koeblergerhard.de/wikiling, p. s.v. recenian
5. ^ Köbler, Gerhard (2014), Altfriesisches Wörterbuch, 4th ed., online, koeblergerhard.de/wikiling, p. s.v. rekenia
6. ^ Köbler, Gerhard (2014), Altenglisches Wörterbuch, 4th ed., online, koeblergerhard.de/wikiling, p. s.v. gerecenian
7. ^ a b c Hofmann, Dietrich; Popkema, Anne Tjerk (2008), Altfriesisches Handwörterbuch, Heidelberg: Carl Winter, p. s.v. rekenia
8. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2014), Germanisches Wörterbuch, 5th ed., online, koeblergerhard.de/wikiling, p. s.v. *rekanōn