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E 0729 RIVER
The English word "river" comes from French
H 0056 א ר ,
י א ר
Concept of root: small river
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Hebrew word
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pronunciation
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English meanings
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א ר , י
א ר
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or, ye'or
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river, small river, canal, Nile
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Related English words
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river
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Comparison between European words and
Hebrew
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Languages
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Words
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Pronunciation
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English meanings
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Similarity in roots
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Hebrew
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א ר , י
א ר
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or,
ye'or
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river, small river, canal, Nile
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or , ye'or
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Dutch
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*aar
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aar
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small river
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a r
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German
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*ahr
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aar
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small river
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a r
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Old Germanic
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*ara
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ara
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small river
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a r
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Proto-Semitic *WŎR --- *VĂR Indo-European
This entry is related to the number E 0730 (Hebrew 0837), dealing with a similarity between Greek and Hebrew words for " to flow, stream".
The older German and Dutch words are still present in the names of mostly smaller rivers. An exception is the river "Ahr" in Switzerland, which is of considerable dimensions. The strong similarity makes a common origin highly probable.
Note:
- Proto-Semitic. The longer Hebrew word, "ye'or", probably has been derived from the shorter one " 'or ", by adding a prefix , that originally may have been "W", later becoming "Y" . It is little probable that his may have taken place under the influence of Egyptian "yrw= river, Nile". True, "ye'or" is also used to indicate just the Nile, and its plural perhaps the canals linked to the Nile, but the Egyptian word is considered to have developed out of an earlier "ytrw". With the prefix "W", Proto-Semitic may have had "* Waw W R", sounding "*WOR".
Note:
- English. The common reasoning for the etymology of the word "river" and its French predecessor "rivière" is that they find their origin in the Latin word " ripa " for " bank ". Latin from "ripa" has developed the adjective "riparius" for that what is found on riverbanks . For some reason the female version " riparia " would have acquired the meaning of what is between the banks, that is the river . But this is plain guesswork, or as more politely expressed " unattested ".
We think it better to recall the Latin word " rivus " that says "stream" or "(small) river " .
And there is no doubt that this is related to Greek word for "to flow" : "reo" , that is mentioned in entry E 0730 (Hebrew 0837).
Note:
- Proto-Germanic. An original form "*Ā R-" is probable.
Note:
- Indo-European.
Old Indian has an important word that is clearly related to Hebrew " 'or ", : with instead of a vowel " O " a consonant " V ", naturally aided by a vowel for pronunciation, in this case " A " : "varī" meaning " streams, rivers " in plural.
The information is limited, but an Indo-European form, already similar to Old Indian, may have existed : "*V Ă R-".
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| Created: Tuesday 6 November 2007 at 22.30.54 Updated: 25/09/2012 at 15.49.38 |
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