*wel-

*wel-¹ to enclose, cover

Reconstruction

LIV reconstructs 1.*u̯el- "to enclose, to cover".^[3] Greek also has forms pointing to *u̯el(H)u-/u̯lu(H)-, such as the perfect Ancient Greek εἴλῡμαι (eílūmai, “am wrapped”), and LIV says a detailed study of all the *u̯el- roots is needed.^[3]

Morphology

LIV sets up a doubtful root aorist, a néu̯-present *u̯l̥-néu̯/nu-, in Sanskrit वृणोति (vṛṇóti, “encloses”), a perfect, found in an emended passage of Pindar, and a fientive *u̯l-éh₁-, in Ancient Greek ἀλῆναι (alênai, “to crowd together”).^[3] The s-aorist Ancient Greek ἔλσαι (élsai) is an innovation.^[3] LIV does not take a Vedic variant of the present as proof of *u̯l̥H-néu̯-, but as another syllabification.^[3] Lubotsky explains that variant otherwise, according to LIV.^[3] Beekes posits a Greek nasal present *ϝελ-νέω and takes the non-present forms for the primary ones.^[4]

Evidence

The root is cited only from Indo-Iranian and Greek.^[3] In the Vedic verb several roots have probably fallen together, besides 1.*u̯el- also 1.*u̯er- "to hold back" (*wer-) and above all *Hu̯er- "to enclose, to put in".^[3] In Greek, "to press together" cannot always be told apart from "to wind".^[4]

Competing analyses

LIV asks whether 2.*u̯el- "to turn, roll" was originally the same root.^[5] Adams puts Sanskrit वृणोति (vṛṇóti, “covers, hems in”) together with Sanskrit "turns" and Latin volvō under one *wel- "wind, twist, bend".^[6]

Meanings

1. to enclose, to cover^[3]

Reflexes

• Indo-Aryan: Sanskrit वृणोति (vṛṇóti, “covers, encloses; holds back”).^[7]
• Greek: Ancient Greek εἰλέω (eiléō, “to press together, to fence in”).^[4]

*wel-² to turn, roll

Reconstruction

LIV reconstructs 2.*u̯el- "to turn, to roll".^[5] De Vaan writes the u-present *uel-u- "to wind",^[8] and Adams *wel- "wind, twist, bend".^[6]

Morphology

LIV sets up a root aorist *u̯él-/ul- and an amphidynamic u-present *u̯él/u̯l-u-, both continued in the aorist and present of Old Armenian գելում (gelum), the present also in Latin volvō.^[5] It adds a néu̯-present, in Ancient Greek εἰλέω (eiléō), and a doubtful reduplicated present for Ancient Greek ἴλλω (íllō, “to turn, to wind”).^[5] A Germanic iterative is an innovation.^[5] Whether volvō comes from *u̯l̥u̯- or *u̯elu̯- cannot be decided.^[5] Beekes also derives Greek "to roll" from a nasal present *ϝελ-νέω and ἴλλω (íllō) from *ϝί-ϝλ-ω.^[4]

Evidence

LIV cites Armenian, Greek and Italic, and doubtfully Germanic and Albanian.^[5] De Vaan adds Old Irish fillid (“to bend”) and Tocharian B "to curl".^[8] LIV marks Gothic 𐍅𐌹𐌻𐍅𐌰𐌽 (wilwan, “to rob”) and Albanian vjell (“to vomit”) as doubtful.^[5]

Meanings

1. to turn, to roll^[5]

LIV suggests that Gothic 𐍅𐌹𐌻𐍅𐌰𐌽 (wilwan) may belong here as "to twist away".^[5] Beekes calls the notion "turn, wind, revolve" unstable, giving many words in the other branches.^[4]

Derivatives

• Latin valvae (“leaf of a door”), perhaps from an adjective *u̯ol-eu̯-o- "turning".^[9]
• Ancient Greek ἔλυτρον (élutron, “envelope, shell, container”), from *ϝέλυ-τρον,^[8] which LIV puts under 1.*u̯el- instead.^[3]
• Tocharian B yel (“worm”), from *wēl(i)-.^[10]

Reflexes

• Armenian: Old Armenian գելում (gelum, “to twist, to squeeze”).^[11]
• Greek: Ancient Greek εἰλέω (eiléō, “to roll, to turn, to wind”), Ancient Greek εἰλύω (eilúō, “to wrap around”).^[4][12]
• Italic: Latin volvō (“to roll”).^[8]
• Tocharian: Tocharian B wäl-.^[6]

*wel-³ to see, perceive

Reconstruction

LIV reconstructs 3.*u̯el- "to see, to perceive";^[1] Matasović writes *wel-o- "see",^[13] Adams *wel- "see",^[14] and Kroonen *uel- "to see".^[15]

Morphology

LIV gives only a full-grade thematic present *u̯él-e-, in Old Irish fil (“there is”), from "look!", and perhaps in the Welsh verb "to see".^[1] Cowgill derived the Welsh verb from *u̯el-ē- instead.^[1] The nominal stems are *u̯l̥-tu-, in Latin voltus (“expression, appearance”) and Gothic 𐍅𐌿𐌻𐌸𐌿𐍃 (wulþus, “glory”), and *u̯el-et-, in Old Irish fili (“seer”).^[1]

Evidence

The root is attested in Celtic, Italic and Germanic.^[16] For Tocharian, Adams derives Tocharian B yel- (“to investigate”) from it,^[14] and Malzahn also thinks this possible, noting that LIV has no Tocharian form.^[17] LIV takes Old English wlitan (“to see”) for a blend with *u̯ei̯d- (*weyd-), after Hamp.^[1] Kroonen finds no clear etymology for the Germanic verb, since Pokorny's extension of *uel- leaves its -i- and -d- unexplained.^[18]

Meanings

1. to see, to perceive^[1]

Old Irish fil went from the imperative "lo, behold" to "there is".^[13] LIV compares French voici and French voilà.^[1]

Derivatives

• *u̯l̥-tu-: Latin voltus (“face, look”), from "gaze, view", and Gothic 𐍅𐌿𐌻𐌸𐌿𐍃 (wulþus, “wealth”), from "respect".^[16]
• *u̯el-ēt-: Old Irish fili (“seer”).^[16]

Reflexes

• Celtic: Old Irish fil (“there is”).^[13]
• Italic: Latin voltus (“facial expression, face”).^[16]
• Germanic: Gothic 𐍅𐌿𐌻𐌸𐌿𐍃 (wulþus, “glory”).^[15]
• Tocharian: Tocharian B yel- (“to investigate”).^[14]