*sinn

Reconstruction

Wiktionary reconstructs a noun *sinn.^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Germanic *sinnaz (“sense, perception”),^[2] which Boutkan and Siebinga cite as *sinna-,^[3] EWA as *sen(þ)na-^[4] and Köbler as *senna-, *senþna-.^[5]

Morphology

A masculine a-stem in Old High German, a noun of action to the strong verb of class III *sen(þ)ne/a-, Old High German sinnan.^[4] Old Frisian has it as a masculine or neuter.^[4]

Evidence

The noun is attested in Old Frisian sin,^[3][6] Old Dutch sin, recorded in Williram's commentary of about 1100 and the Middle Franconian Rhyme Bible,^[7] and Old High German sin, in glosses from the second quarter of the 9th century and in Otfrid and Notker.^[4] EWA lists no Old English or Old Saxon form, and holds that the Norwegian, Danish and Swedish words are loans from German.^[4] Gamillscheg derives Old French sen (“understanding, direction”), which merged with sens from Latin sēnsus, and a Walloon word for "simple-minded" from Frankish *sin (“direction of a way”).^[8] Old French sen "way" belongs here too, while the sense "understanding" of the Germanic word was itself influenced by the Latin word.^[8]

Meanings

1. sense, perception^[1][3]
2. meaning^[1][4]
3. mind, reason^[1][4]
4. way, direction^[1][8]

Boutkan and Siebinga see a development from an original "set out, go; perceive" towards "concentrate one's thoughts, observe, feel".^[3] EWA compares it with German erfahren, where the sense of motion in space gave way to that of sensory and mental experience, if the verb first meant "to go".^[4] Early Middle Dutch also used the word for "direction" and "manner".^[4]

Reflexes

• Old Frisian: sin (“sense”)^[3]
• Old Dutch: sin (“mind, thought”)^[7]
• Old High German: sin (“sense, mind, understanding, intention”)^[4]

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org, p. s.v. *sinn
2. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org, p. s.v. *sinnaz
3. ^ a b c d e Boutkan, Dirk; Siebinga, Sjoerd Michiel (2005), Old Frisian Etymological Dictionary, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 1, Leiden / Boston: Brill, p. s.v. sin
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j 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. sin
5. ^ Köbler, Gerhard (2014), Althochdeutsches Wörterbuch, 6th ed., online, koeblergerhard.de/wikiling, p. s.v. sin
6. ^ Bremmer, Rolf H., Jr. (2009), An Introduction to Old Frisian: History, Grammar, Reader, Glossary, Amsterdam / Philadelphia: John Benjamins, p. 210
7. ^ a b Oudnederlands Woordenboek (2009–), Instituut voor de Nederlandse Taal, Leiden; gtb.ivdnt.org, p. s.v. sin
8. ^ a b c Gamillscheg, Ernst (1966–1969), Etymologisches Wörterbuch der französischen Sprache, 2nd, fully revised ed., Heidelberg: Winter, p. 851