Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/-þuz

This Proto-Germanic entry contains reconstructed terms and roots. As such, the term(s) in this entry are not directly attested, but are hypothesized to have existed based on comparative evidence.

Proto-Germanic

Etymology

From Proto-Indo-European *-tus.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /θuz/

Noun

*-þuz m

Forms result nouns from verb roots, usually from strong verbs.

Inflection

u-stemDeclension of *-þuz (u-stem)
	singular	plural
nominative	*-þuz	*-þiwiz
vocative	*-þu	*-þiwiz
accusative	*-þų	*-þunz
genitive	*-þauz	*-þiwǫ̂
dative	*-þiwi	*-þumaz
instrumental	*-þū	*-þumiz

Usage notes

There are several variant forms based on the final consonant of the stem and the original position of the accent:

Ending in a dental: *-suz (with the Germanic spirant law applied)
Ending in an obstruent: *-tuz (with the Germanic spirant law applied)
Otherwise: *-þuz, *-duz

Derived terms

Descendants

This suffix appears to no longer have been productive in most daughter languages. The following lists outcomes of derived terms.

Proto-West Germanic:
- Old English: -þ, -d, -t
  - Middle English: -th, -d, -þ, -þe, -t, -te (following fricatives) (conflated with -þ < *-þiz)
    - English: -th, -t (conflated with -the < *-iþō)
    - Scots: -th, -t (conflated with -the < *-iþō)
- Old Saxon: -th
- Old Dutch: *-t
  - Dutch: -t, -d, -de
- Old High German: -d; -t
  - Middle High German: -?; -t
    - German: -de, -d; -t
Proto-Norse:
- Old Norse: -ðr
  - Icelandic: -ður
  - Faroese: -ður
  - Swedish: -d
  - Danish: -d
Gothic: -𐌸𐌿𐍃 (-þus)