𐌰𐌻𐌸𐌴𐌹𐍃

Forms

𐌰𐌻𐌸𐌴𐌹𐍃 (alþeis), an adjective of the ja-stems.^[1][2][3] The comparative is 𐌰𐌻𐌸𐌹𐌶𐌰 (alþiza).^[4][2] Köbler records the nominative singular 𐌰𐌻𐌸𐌴𐌹𐍃 (alþeis) twice, the comparative alþiza once, the neuter nominative plural 𐌰𐌻𐌸𐌾𐍉𐌽𐌰 (alþjōna) twice and the feminine genitive plural 𐌰𐌻𐌸𐌾𐍉𐌽𐍉 (alþjōnō) once.^[2]

Etymology

Wiktionary takes it as inherited from Proto-Germanic *aldaz (“old, grown up”) extended with a suffix, through a variant with þ or a ja-stem.^[5] Orel sets up a ja-stem for the Gothic word and the comparative Old Norse ellri (“older”), and equates it with Old Irish altae (“adult”).^[6] Lehmann notes that the Gothic suffix differs from that of Old English eald, Old Saxon ald and Old High German alt, which continue a Proto-Indo-European formation in -to-, and that Gothic may have taken the ja-stem from 𐌽𐌹𐌿𐌾𐌹𐍃 (niujis, “new”) and the þ from the comparative.^[7] The root is Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- (“to grow, nourish”),^[2] also in Latin altus (“high”) and adultus (“grown up”).^[7][8] Uhlenbeck puts it with 𐌰𐌻𐌳𐍃 (alds, “age”) and, probably, the verb 𐌰𐌻𐌰𐌽 (alan, “to grow up”).^[9] Lehmann reports, as highly speculative, Mastrelli's view that the shift from "adult" to "aged" reflects the loss of the inherited adjective for "old".^[7]

Attestation

The word occurs six times in Köbler's and the Wulfila project's counts: once in Luke (15:25, manuscript CA), at 2 Corinthians 5:17 in manuscripts A and B, twice in the Skeireins (manuscript E), and once in the calendar (manuscript A), under 19 November.^[2][10] Köbler gives the Greek equivalents Ancient Greek γέρων (gérōn, “old man”) (in the Skeireins), ἀρχαῖος (arkhaîos, “ancient”) and, for alþiza, πρεσβύτερος (presbúteros, “elder”).^[2] The first in canonical order is the comparative at Luke 15:25, which reads wasuþ þan sunus is sa alþiza ana akra, "now his elder son was in the field".^[11]

Meanings

1. old, for γέρων and ἀρχαῖος^[1][2]
2. comparative sa alþiza: the elder (son)^[12][2]
3. neuter plural þō alþjōna: the old things (2 Corinthians 5:17)^[3]

Word family

• 𐌿𐍃𐌰𐌻𐌸𐌰𐌽𐍃 (usalþans, “worn out with age”)

Related words

• 𐌰𐌻𐌳𐍃 (alds, “age”)
• 𐌰𐌻𐌰𐌽 (alan, “to grow up”)

Usage notes

Lehmann contrasts the suffix with Crimean Gothic alt "old".^[7]

References

1. ^ a b Streitberg, Wilhelm (1910), Die gotische Bibel, II: Gotisch-griechisch-deutsches Wörterbuch, Heidelberg: Winter, p. s.v. alþeis
2. ^ a b c d e f g h Köbler, Gerhard (2014), Gotisches Wörterbuch, 4th ed., online, koeblergerhard.de/wikiling, p. s.v. alþeis
3. ^ a b Braune, Wilhelm; Heidermanns, Frank (2004), Gotische Grammatik, mit Lesestücken und Wörterverzeichnis, 20th ed., Sammlung kurzer Grammatiken germanischer Dialekte A 1, Tübingen: Niemeyer, p. 269
4. ^ Krause, Wolfgang (1963), Handbuch des Gotischen, 2nd ed., München: Beck, p. § 166, 1b
5. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org, p. s.v. 𐌰𐌻𐌸𐌴𐌹𐍃
6. ^ Orel, Vladimir (2003), A Handbook of Germanic Etymology, Leiden / Boston: Brill, p. 16
7. ^ a b c d Lehmann, Winfred P. (1986), A Gothic Etymological Dictionary, based on the third edition of Vergleichendes Wörterbuch der gotischen Sprache by Sigmund Feist, Leiden: Brill, p. s.v. alþeis
8. ^ Holthausen, Ferdinand (1934), Gotisches etymologisches Wörterbuch, Heidelberg: Winter, p. 6
9. ^ Uhlenbeck, C. C. (1900), Kurzgefasstes etymologisches Wörterbuch der gotischen Sprache, 2nd ed., Amsterdam: Müller, p. 11
10. ^ De Herdt, Tom (2004–2026), Project Wulfila: digital edition of the Gothic Bible with lemma and morphological annotation, data release 2026-09-03, wulfila.be
11. ^ De Herdt, Tom (2004–2026), Project Wulfila: digital edition of the Gothic Bible with lemma and morphological annotation, data release 2026-09-03, wulfila.be, p. Lk 15:25
12. ^ Skeat, Walter W. (1868), A Moeso-Gothic Glossary, with an Introduction, an Outline of Moeso-Gothic Grammar, and a List of Anglo-Saxon and Old and Modern English Words Etymologically Connected with Moeso-Gothic, London: Asher, p. 18