< Reconstruction:Proto-Semitic

Reconstruction:Proto-Semitic/-ay-

This Proto-Semitic 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-Semitic

Etymology

Likely cognate with Proto-Berber *-e.

Suffix

*-ay- f

  1. Used to create feminine forms of certain words.

Inflection
Declension of *-ay-
Case Singular Dual Plural
Nominative *-ayum *-ayāna plural stem + *-ūna
Genitive *-ayim *-ayayna plural stem + *-īna
Accusative *-ayam
possessive forms
1st person *-ayī / *-ayVya — *-ayVni
2nd person m *-ayVka *-ayVkumā / *-ayVkumay *-ayVkum(ū)
2nd person f *-ayVki *-ayVkin(ā)
3rd person m *-ayVšu *-ayVšumā / *-ayVšumay *-ayVšum(ū)
3rd person f *-ayVša *-ayVšin(ā)
Note: the endings -m and -na are dropped in the bound form, which may also undergo syncopation of an unstressed final vowel where possible.

Note: the ending -V before the possessive endings responds to case: *-ayuya for nom. case, *-ayiya for gen. case, *-ayaya for acc. case, etc.

Declension of 2sg m. possessive form (your/thy m.) *-ay-
Singular Dual Plural
Nominative *-ayuka *-ayāka plural stem + *-ūka
Genitive *-ayika *-ayayka plural stem + *-īka
Accusative *-ayaka
Declension of 2sg f. possessive form (your/thy f.) *-ay-
Singular Dual Plural
Nominative *-ayuki *-ayāki plural stem + *-ūki
Genitive *-ayiki *-ayayki plural stem + *-īki
Accusative *-ayaki

See also

Descendants

Used to form the feminine of *ʕašt- (“one”); see feminine descendants there for some unproductive descendants.

Productive descendants:

  • West Semitic:
    • Central Semitic:
      • Arabic: ـَى (-ā)
      • Northwest Semitic:
        • Aramaic:
          • Classical Syriac: ـܰܝܳܐ (-ayā)
    • Ethiopian Semitic:
      • Ge'ez: -e

References
  • van Putten, Marijn (2018), "The feminine endings *-ay and *-āy in Semitic and Berber", Bulletin of SOAS 81:2, p. 205–225.
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