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*deyḱ-

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Etymology and origin of the Proto-Indo-European word *deyḱ-

*deyḱ-1 to show

Confidence
Established

Reconstruction

The root is 1.*dei̯k̑- "to show, indicate" in LIV,[1] and *deiḱ- in Beekes and Kroonen.[2][3] LIV separates it from 2.*dei̯k̑- "to throw", following Tichy.[1]

Morphology

LIV reconstructs a root aorist *déi̯k̑-/dik̑-, an e-reduplicated present *dé-doi̯k̑/dik̑-, a thematic present *déi̯k̑-e-, an iterative *doi̯k̑-éi̯e- and an intensive *déi̯-doi̯k̑/dik̑-, and counts the s-aorist, the nu-present of Greek and the perfect as innovations.[1] Kümmel's addenda take the s-aorist *dḗi̯k̑/déi̯k̑-s- of Avestan, Greek and Latin as probably PIE after all, perhaps made secondarily to the reduplicated present.[4] Beekes notes that the nu-present of Greek, with a secondary full grade, has ousted the other ablaut forms except in Cretan δίκνυτι (díknuti) and the noun Ancient Greek δίκη (díkē).[2] De Vaan reconstructs a present *deiḱ-e/o-, an aorist *deiḱ-s- and a root noun *-diḱ-s.[5]

Evidence

Reflexes are cited below from Indo-Aryan, Greek, Italic and Germanic, and LIV adds Avestan forms.[1] Hittite tekkuššii̯e/a- (“to show”) is not related, according to Beekes, after Kloekhorst.[2]

Meanings

  1. to show, to indicate[1][5]

Latin and Oscan developed the sense "to say", and Germanic "to accuse".[1][3] Beekes takes the link with "right" in Greek δίκη (díkē) as old, since it is also found in Latin dicis causā, iūdex and in Germanic.[6] Tichy's study of the root's meaning is cited by LIV.[1]

Derivatives

  • The root noun, seen in a Sanskrit word for "cardinal point" and in Latin dicis causā, of which Greek δίκη (díkē, “custom, right, judgement”) is probably an extension.[6]
  • *-diḱ-s "saying", de Vaan's root noun as a compound member, in Proto-Sabellic *med-diḱ- "who speaks law", which de Vaan compares with Latin iūdex.[5]

Reflexes

  • Indo-Aryan: Sanskrit दिशति (diśáti, “shows, brings forward”).[7]
  • Greek: Ancient Greek δείκνυμι (deíknumi, “to show”).[2]
  • Italic: Latin dīcō (“to say”).[5]
  • Germanic: Gothic 𐌲𐌰𐍄𐌴𐌹𐌷𐌰𐌽 (gateihan, “to announce, tell, report”), from Proto-Germanic *tihan- (“to point out”).[3]

*deyḱ-2 to throw

Confidence
Uncertain

Reconstruction

LIV sets up 2.*dei̯k̑- "to throw", separated from the root "to show" after Tichy.[8] Kloekhorst writes it *deiḱ- "to throw away".[9]

Morphology

LIV reconstructs a root aorist *déi̯k̑-/dik̑- and an iterative *doi̯k̑-éi̯e-.[8]

Evidence

LIV's root rests on Greek and Khotanese.[8] Kloekhorst suggests that Hittite tekri- (“deposition”) is a derivative *deiḱ-ri- "throwing away", with a question mark.[9]

Competing analyses

Beekes finds the connection of Greek δικεῖν (dikeîn, “to throw”) with δείκνυμι (deíknumi), defended by Brugmann and Gonda, semantically problematic, and points with Furnée to a Pre-Greek word, while noting LIV's link with Khotanese.[10]

Meanings

  1. to throw[8]

Reflexes

  • Greek: Ancient Greek δικεῖν (dikeîn, “to throw”).[10]
  • Iranian: Khotanese diśś- (“to throw”), cited by LIV.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Rix, Helmut, et al. (2001), Lexikon der indogermanischen Verben, 2nd ed., Wiesbaden: Reichert, p. s.v. 1.*dei̯k̑-
  2. ^ a b c d Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010), Etymological Dictionary of Greek, with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 10, Leiden; Boston: Brill, p. s.v. δείκνυμι
  3. ^ a b c Kroonen, Guus (2013), Etymological Dictionary of Proto-Germanic, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 11, Leiden / Boston: Brill, p. 517
  4. ^ Kümmel, Martin Joachim, Addenda und Corrigenda zu LIV², online document, last change 16 June 2026, p. 17
  5. ^ a b c d de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill, p. s.v. dīcō
  6. ^ a b Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010), Etymological Dictionary of Greek, with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 10, Leiden; Boston: Brill, p. s.v. δίκη
  7. ^ Mayrhofer, Manfred (1956–1980), Kurzgefasstes etymologisches Wörterbuch des Altindischen, Heidelberg: Winter, p. 43
  8. ^ a b c d e Rix, Helmut, et al. (2001), Lexikon der indogermanischen Verben, 2nd ed., Wiesbaden: Reichert, p. s.v. 2.*dei̯k̑-
  9. ^ a b Kloekhorst, Alwin (2008), Etymological Dictionary of the Hittite Inherited Lexicon, Leiden: Brill, p. 863
  10. ^ a b Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010), Etymological Dictionary of Greek, with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 10, Leiden; Boston: Brill, p. s.v. δικεῖν
Cite this entry

“*deyḱ-.” Etymologically, 7 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/ine-pro/*dey%E1%B8%B1-. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

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