*spend-

*spend-¹ to libate

Reconstruction

LIV sets up *spend-, its first root of this shape, "to libate" with an amphidynamic root present *spénd-/spn̥d-.^[1] Mallory and Adams write *spend- "make an offering",^[2] and Kölligan's lexicon chapter in HCHIEL lists *spend- "libate".^[3] The Hittite verb points to an o-grade beside the e-grade: Kloekhorst reconstructs *spóndei, *spndénti,^[4] Jasanoff takes Hittite to preserve both stem variants, *spond- and *spend-,^[5] and Beekes cites the root as *spond- with Greek σπένδω (spéndō) from *spend-.^[6]

Morphology

Besides the root present, LIV reconstructs a sigmatic aorist ?*spḗnd/spénd-s- in Ancient Greek ἔσπεισα (éspeisa), a perfect ?*spe-spónd/spn̥d- in Hittite šipant- and Old Latin spepondī, an iterative *spond-éi̯e- in the Latin present and a doubtful essive ?*spn̥d-h₁i̯é- in Tocharian B späntetär (“trusts”).^[1] Kloekhorst finds no difference in meaning between the spellings Hittite išpant- and šipant-, and holds that Forssman's derivation of šipant- from a reduplicated *spe-spond- cannot be proven.^[4] Oettinger suggests that the root meant chiefly "to libate", while the iterative *spond-éi̯e- expressed vowing an animal to the god by pouring before the sacrifice.^[7]

Evidence

The root is cited in four branches, Anatolian, Greek, Italic and Tocharian.^[3] The Hittite, Greek and Latin verbs have been equated since Hrozný in 1915, and the equation is generally accepted.^[4] The Tocharian member is the weakest: LIV notes that its semantic link needs explaining,^[1] and Adams reports Pinault's objection to it on semantic and formal grounds and himself prefers an ablauting root noun *sponT-/spn̥T- for the Tocharian family.^[8] LIV lists no Indo-Iranian, Germanic, Celtic or Balto-Slavic form.^[1]

Meanings

1. to libate,^[1] to make an offering^[2]

The root often takes on the sense "vow, promise", as Greek σπονδή (spondḗ, “libation”), plural "truce", shows, the gods being the witnesses of the obligation.^[9] The Greek middle means "to make a solemn agreement",^[1] and Latin spondeō means "to pledge, to promise".^[10]

Derivatives

• Greek σπονδή (spondḗ, “libation, offering of wine”), in the plural usually "ceasefire agreement, truce".^[11]
• Hittite išpantuwar (“libation”), a verbal noun whose genitive gave the vessel name Hittite išpantuwa- (“libation vessel”).^[4]

Reflexes

• Anatolian: Hittite išpant- (“to libate”).^[4]
• Greek: Ancient Greek σπένδω (spéndō, “to offer a libation, pour”).^[11]
• Italic: Latin spondeō (“to pledge, to promise”) and perhaps Oscan spentud.^[10]
• Tocharian: Tocharian B spänt- (“to trust”), if it belongs here.^[12]

*spend-² to stretch

Reconstruction

LIV sets up a second root *(s)pend- "to stretch, tighten" with a question mark, as a parallel root of *(s)penh₁-.^[13] NIL also has *(s)pend- "to stretch" and marks it as a questionable root.^[14] Derksen reconstructs *(s)p(e)nd- with Balto-Slavic *(s)penʔd-,^[15] and de Vaan *(s)pend-e/o- "to spin".^[16]

Morphology

LIV reconstructs a full-grade e-present *(s)pénd-e- in Latin pendō and Lithuanian spę́sti, and a doubtful causative-iterative ?*(s)pond-éi̯e- in Church Slavonic пѫдити (pǫditi, “to drive”); the Latin perfect is an innovation.^[13] LIV explains the Balto-Slavic acute by Winter's law, and reports Meiser's view that pendō may replace an older *pn̥(h₁)e-, in which case it would be unrelated to the Balto-Slavic words.^[13] NIL sets up the nouns *spond-o-, *spond-ah₂- and *(s)pn̥d-tó-.^[14]

Evidence

The root rests on Italic and Balto-Slavic,^[13] with possible Celtic nouns.^[14] Matasović derives Old Irish ond (“stone”) and Latin pondus (“weight”) from a *(s)pondos "weight" to *(s)pend- "hang", if the etymology is right,^[17] but prefers *sph₂ondo- to de Vaan's *(s)pend- for Proto-Celtic *sfondo- (“staff”) and Latin sponda (“bedstead”).^[18] de Vaan rules out the Germanic words for "bucket" because of the *-d-.^[19]

Competing analyses

Nearly all handbooks regard the root as a variant of *(s)penh₁- "to spin, weave".^[16] LIV takes *-d- as part of the root, Meiser as a suffix *-d(h)-, and de Vaan finds the suffix more likely.^[16] ALEW says that the relation between *(s)pend- and *(s)penh₁- still needs clarifying,^[20] and Smoczyński derives the Baltic *spend- from *(s)pen-d-, related to *(s)pen-h₁-.^[21]

Meanings

1. to stretch, to tighten^[13]
2. to spin^[16]
3. to hang^[17]

de Vaan explains Latin pendō by a shift from "to spin" to "to stretch a string" to "to leave hanging down".^[16] The sources place the Germanic verb for "spin" elsewhere: LIV, with a question mark, and Kroonen put Proto-Germanic *spinnan- under *(s)penh₁-,^[22][23] and Pokorny's root *(s)pen-(d-) "to pull, stretch; to spin" grouped both sets of words together.^[24]

Derivatives

• Latin sponda (“bedstead”), probably from the root for "to spin".^[19]
• Church Slavonic пѧдь (pędĭ, “span”).^[15]

Reflexes

• Italic: Latin pendō (“to weigh; to pay”).^[16]
• Balto-Slavic: Lithuanian spę́sti (“to set a trap”).^[15][20]
• Celtic: Old Irish ond (“stone”), if from *(s)pondos.^[17]