*deḱ-

Reconstruction

The root is *dek̑- in LIV,^[1] and *deḱ- in de Vaan, Beekes and Derksen.^[2][3][4]

Morphology

LIV reconstructs a root aorist *dék̑-/dek̑-, an acrodynamic root present *dḗk̑-/dék̑-, a néu̯-present, a perfect *de-dók̑/dek̑-, a causative-iterative *dok̑-éi̯e-, a reduplicated desiderative *di-dk̑-sé-, an intensive and an essive *dek̑-h₁i̯é-.^[1] The acrodynamic present meant "to keep perceiving", that is "to look out for, expect", in LIV's view.^[1] Beekes instead derives the Sanskrit present from an originally reduplicated *de-dḱ-, with no need for a lengthened grade.^[3] De Vaan reconstructs Latin discō as *di-dḱ-sḱ-e/o-, with an iterative suffix, not LIV's desiderative.^[5]

Evidence

Reflexes are cited below from Indo-Aryan, Greek, Italic and Slavic, and LIV adds Armenian, Iranian and Hittite forms.^[1] The Hittite evidence is disputed (see below).^[6]

Competing analyses

LIV derives Hittite dākk- (“to resemble”) from the causative *dok̑-éi̯e-, as does Greek δοκεῖ (dokeî, “it seems”).^[1] Kloekhorst accepts the link with δοκεῖ but finds the further connection with δέκομαι (dékomai) and Latin doceō semantically unlikely, and reconstructs *dókh₁-ei, *dkh₁-énti.^[6] De Vaan cites the Hittite form under Kloekhorst's *dokh₁-/*dkh₁-.^[7] Beekes compares the Armenian verb "to see", but finds an Armenian word for "gift" and the Slavic verb Proto-Slavic *desiti (“to find”) uncertain.^[3]

Meanings

1. to take, to accept, to perceive^[1]

LIV takes "to make someone perceive something" as the source of "to teach" and of "to seem, resemble".^[1] Beekes suggests that Greek δέκομαι (dékomai) first meant "to consider something appropriate".^[3] Words for a lock or thread of hair, such as Middle Irish dúal and Sanskrit दशा (daśā, “fringe”), are set up by Matasović under *doḱ-lo-, after Pokorny's root "thread, hair".^[8][9]

Derivatives

• *doḱ-ei̯e/o- "to have someone accept something", in Latin doceō (“to teach”).^[7]
• *deḱ-eh₁-, *deḱ-es- and *deḱ-no-, in Latin decet (“it is fitting”), Latin decus and Latin dignus.^[2]
• *di-dḱ-sḱ-e/o-, in Latin discō (“to learn”).^[5]

Reflexes

• Indo-Aryan: Sanskrit दाशति (dā́śati, “offers, honours”).^[10]
• Greek: Ancient Greek δέχομαι (dékhomai, “to accept, receive”).^[3]
• Italic: Latin decet (“it is fitting”).^[2]
• Slavic: Proto-Slavic *desiti (“to find, encounter”).^[4]

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. *dek̑-
2. ^ a b c 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. decet
3. ^ a b c d e 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. δέχομαι
4. ^ a b Derksen, Rick (2008), Etymological Dictionary of the Slavic Inherited Lexicon, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 4, Leiden / Boston: Brill, p. 100
5. ^ a b 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. discō
6. ^ a b Kloekhorst, Alwin (2008), Etymological Dictionary of the Hittite Inherited Lexicon, Leiden: Brill, p. 811
7. ^ a b 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. doceō
8. ^ Matasović, Ranko (2009), Etymological Dictionary of Proto-Celtic, Leiden: Brill, p. 103
9. ^ Mayrhofer, Manfred (1956–1980), Kurzgefasstes etymologisches Wörterbuch des Altindischen, Heidelberg: Winter, p. 27
10. ^ Mayrhofer, Manfred (1956–1980), Kurzgefasstes etymologisches Wörterbuch des Altindischen, Heidelberg: Winter, p. 38