*rād

Reconstruction

Wiktionary reconstructs *rād "advice, counsel" for Proto-West Germanic.^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Germanic *rēdaz (“advice, counsel”),^[1] which Orel writes *rēđan, Köbler *rēda-, *rēdaz and EWA *rēđa-.^[2][3][4] Wiktionary calls it a noun formed from the verb *rēdaną "to advise",^[5] and Berr likewise a deverbative.^[6] In fully stressed syllables Proto-Germanic *ē became *ā in Proto-Northwest Germanic,^[7] as in the verb, Proto-Germanic *rēdaną > Proto-West Germanic *rādan.^[8]

Morphology

A masculine a-stem.^[9][10] EWA gives the Old High German word as an a- or i-stem.^[4] Orel sets up the Proto-Germanic noun as neuter or masculine, and EWA notes that the North Germanic forms, such as Old Norse ráð, are neuter, from *rāđa-.^[2][4]

Evidence

The noun is attested as Old English rǣd, Old Frisian rēd, Old Saxon rād and Old High German rāt,^[2] and as Old Dutch rāt in Williram's commentary of about 1100 and the Middle Franconian Rhyme Bible.^[11] EWA has the Old High German word from the end of the 8th century on.^[4] On the bow brooch of Igling-Unterigling, Nedoma tentatively reads ⟨aunṛxḍ⟩ as the name *Aunrād;^[12][13] EWA dates the brooch to 526–600 and allows that the word may appear there as an element of a name already before Old High German.^[4] If the reading is right, its ⟨a⟩ stands for ā from Proto-Germanic *ē.^[13] EWA also lists Proto-Norse names in ⟨-radaz⟩, such as ⟨frawaradaz⟩ on the Möjbro stone, and Lombard personal names with the element.^[4]

Meanings

1. advice, counsel^[1][2]

Old English also used the word for "decision, plan, wisdom, benefit",^[10] Old Frisian for "council, decision, permission",^[14] Old Saxon for "help",^[6] and Old High German for "supply, deliberation, decision, council".^[4]

Derivatives

• *rādalaus "ill-advised, at a loss", which Wiktionary reconstructs;^[15] Orel sets up Proto-Germanic *rēđa-lausaz for Old English rǣdlēas, Old Frisian rēdlās and their cognates.^[2]
• Orel's Proto-Germanic *rēđa-ʒebōn "counsellor" is continued by Old English rǣdgifa, Old Frisian rēdieva (“judge”), Old Saxon rādgebo (“ruler”) and Old High German rātgebo.^[2]
• The personal names *Rādawulf and *Kōnirād, and *hīwarād "family", which Wiktionary reconstructs.^[16][17][18]

Reflexes

• Old English: rǣd (“advice, counsel, decision, plan, wisdom”)^[10]
• Old Frisian: rēd (“advice, counsel, council, decision”)^[14]
• Old Saxon: rād (“advice, help”)^[6]
• Old Dutch: rāt (“counsel”)^[11]
• Old High German: rāt (“counsel, deliberation, decision, council, supply”)^[4]

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org, p. s.v. *rād
2. ^ a b c d e f Orel, Vladimir (2003), A Handbook of Germanic Etymology, Leiden / Boston: Brill, p. 303
3. ^ Köbler, Gerhard (2014), Germanisches Wörterbuch, 5th ed., online, koeblergerhard.de/wikiling, p. s.v. *rēda-
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. rât
5. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org, p. s.v. *rēdaz
6. ^ a b c Berr, Samuel (1971), An Etymological Glossary to the Old Saxon Heliand, Berne / Frankfurt: Herbert Lang, p. 321
7. ^ Ringe, Don; Taylor, Ann (2014), The Development of Old English, A Linguistic History of English II, Oxford: Oxford University Press, p. 10
8. ^ Ringe, Don; Taylor, Ann (2014), The Development of Old English, A Linguistic History of English II, Oxford: Oxford University Press, p. 149
9. ^ Köbler, Gerhard, Altniederfränkisches Wörterbuch, online, koeblergerhard.de/wikiling, p. s.v. rād
10. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2014), Altenglisches Wörterbuch, 4th ed., online, koeblergerhard.de/wikiling, p. s.v. rǣd
11. ^ a b Oudnederlands Woordenboek (2009–), Instituut voor de Nederlandse Taal, Leiden; gtb.ivdnt.org, p. s.v. rāt
12. ^ Düwel, Klaus; Nedoma, Robert; Oehrl, Sigmund (2020), Die südgermanischen Runeninschriften, 2 vols, Ergänzungsbände zum Reallexikon der Germanischen Altertumskunde 119, Berlin / Boston: De Gruyter, p. SG-58
13. ^ a b Findell, Martin (2012), Phonological Evidence from the Continental Runic Inscriptions, Ergänzungsbände zum Reallexikon der Germanischen Altertumskunde 79, Berlin / Boston: De Gruyter, p. 183
14. ^ a b Hofmann, Dietrich; Popkema, Anne Tjerk (2008), Altfriesisches Handwörterbuch, Heidelberg: Carl Winter, p. s.v. rēd
15. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org, p. s.v. *rādalaus
16. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org, p. s.v. *Rādawulf
17. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org, p. s.v. *Kōnirād
18. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org, p. s.v. *hīwarād