< Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic

Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/ga-

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

Alternative forms

  • *gą-

Etymology

From Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm (with, near, by, along). Cognate with Latin co-, con-, prefix forms of cum (with). The irregular change from expected **ha- to *ga- is probably due to the unstressed nature of this prefix.

Prefix

*ga-

  1. Indicates association or togetherness; co-.
  2. Indicates completeness or wholeness. In verbs, also indicates perfectivity (a finished action).

Derived terms

Proto-Germanic terms prefixed with *ga-
  • *gagana
  • *gaganą

Descendants

In Old Norse, *ga- only survives as a fossil in a few words. Its semantic function was, however, retained perfectly by the particle of.

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