*galīk

Reconstruction

Ringe and Taylor reconstruct *galīk "similar" for Proto-West Germanic,^[1] and Wiktionary has the same form.^[2]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Germanic *galīkaz (“similar”),^[1][3] which Köbler gives as *galeikaz, *galīkaz.^[4] EWA analyses Proto-Germanic *ga-līka- as a possessive compound, "having the same shape", with the prefix *ga-.^[5][5]

Morphology

An adjective.^[1] Ringe and Taylor reconstruct its adverb *galīkō "in the same way, similarly", from Proto-Germanic *galīkō̄ with a trimoric final vowel.^[6]

Evidence

The adjective is attested in all the West Germanic languages: Old English ġelīċ, Old Frisian līk, Old Saxon gilīk and Old High German gilīh.^[1] EWA notes that the Old Frisian word has no prefix,^[5] though the West Frisian (Westerlauwers) texts also have gelīk.^[7] Old Dutch has gilīk in the Psalms of the 9th century and in Williram's commentary of 1100.^[8][9] EWA calls the adjective common Germanic.^[5]

Meanings

1. similar^[1]
2. alike^[2]

Old English used the word for "equal, similar",^[10] and Old High German also for "of equal rank, corresponding" and, with a genitive plural, "each".^[5]

Derivatives

• *līkattjan "to pretend, to flatter": Old English līċettan, Old High German līhhezzen.^[1]
• *galīkanassī "similarity, image": Old English ġelīcnes, Old Saxon gilīknessi, Old High German gilīknessi.^[3]
• *galīkō "in the same way, similarly": Old Saxon gilīko, Old High German gilīhho.^[6]

Reflexes

• Old English: ġelīċ (“equal, similar”)^[10]
• Old Frisian: līk (“equal, the same, similar”)^[11]
• Old Saxon: gilīk (“equal”)^[12]
• Old Dutch: gilīk (“equal, similar”)^[9]
• Old High German: gilīh (“similar, equal, of equal rank, corresponding”)^[5]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Ringe, Don; Taylor, Ann (2014), The Development of Old English, A Linguistic History of English II, Oxford: Oxford University Press, p. 129
2. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org, p. s.v. *galīk
3. ^ a b Ringe, Don; Taylor, Ann (2014), The Development of Old English, A Linguistic History of English II, Oxford: Oxford University Press, p. 132
4. ^ Köbler, Gerhard (2014), Germanisches Wörterbuch, 5th ed., online, koeblergerhard.de/wikiling, p. s.v. *galeika-
5. ^ a b c d e f 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. gilīh
6. ^ a b Ringe, Don; Taylor, Ann (2014), The Development of Old English, A Linguistic History of English II, Oxford: Oxford University Press, p. 59
7. ^ Hofmann, Dietrich; Popkema, Anne Tjerk (2008), Altfriesisches Handwörterbuch, Heidelberg: Carl Winter, p. s.v. gelīk
8. ^ Köbler, Gerhard, Altniederfränkisches Wörterbuch, online, koeblergerhard.de/wikiling, p. s.v. gilīk
9. ^ a b Oudnederlands Woordenboek (2009–), Instituut voor de Nederlandse Taal, Leiden; gtb.ivdnt.org, p. s.v. gilīk
10. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2014), Altenglisches Wörterbuch, 4th ed., online, koeblergerhard.de/wikiling, p. s.v. gelic
11. ^ Hofmann, Dietrich; Popkema, Anne Tjerk (2008), Altfriesisches Handwörterbuch, Heidelberg: Carl Winter, p. s.v. līk
12. ^ Berr, Samuel (1971), An Etymological Glossary to the Old Saxon Heliand, Berne / Frankfurt: Herbert Lang, p. 253