GD 1058         KROESEN

H 0777             ס ר ק

Concept of root : strong curving

Hebrew word

pronunciation

English meanings

ס ר ק

qaras; qeres

to curve; hook

Related English words

none

Comparison between European words and Hebrew

Languages

Words

Pronunciation

English meanings

Similarity in roots

Hebrew

      ס ר ק

qaras;

 qeres

to curve;

hook

q . r . s

Middle Dutch

croesen

crusen

to curl (finely)

c r . s

Dutch

kroezen

kruzen

to curl (finely)

k r . s

Norwegian

krus

krüs

(finely) curled

k r . s

Swedish

krus

krüs

(finely) curled

k r . s

 

 

Proto-Semitic *QARAS --- *KRŪS- Proto-Germanic < *KŪR- Indo-European

 

 

Straight lines are rare in the world and one can understand that there are very many roots and words that express some kind of curving. Quite a few hold a combination of a K-sound and R-sound , among them the word "curve" itself. But there are less that have also an S as a third consonant : KRS. Some of these we have put together in this entry.

 

In modern language the same root touches what perhaps are other fields, as in "to collapse, tumble down" , but one may find also in the ancient use of this root a link between those and "curving down". A common origin is quite possible between these messages.

 

Note:
  • Hebrew and Dutch seem to use different vowels but if we look at the Hebrew participle, that is used to express the present tense in modern language, we find "qores", which is already a bit nearer to Dutch.

     

    For the other Hebrew word, "qeres" for "hook" , we find in Dutch a word "kruk" that stands for a "doorhandle, crank, crutch". It misses the S and has doubled the " K " instead . It can be considered together with those many other words that link the sounds K and R with something curved.

 

Note:
  • Proto-Germanic. The examples are used especially for the fine curling we see in the hair of people or in wool on certain animals. But in Dutch also for plants that densily curve amongst each other the same root is used. Further words are found in Middle High German "krūs", Middle English "crūs" and Middle Dutch "cruus, cruys". Proto-Germanic may had used a form "*KR Ū S".

 

Note:
  • Proto-Semitic. There are four identical roots as "K R S", with also various cognates outside Hebrew. The groups of meanings are 1. "to bend down, stoop", 2. "to turn sour", 3." to contract, harden, shrink", 4." to hook, clasp, fastening with hook or clasp", 5." to curve". Probably Proto-Semitic knew this root "*ק ר ס , K R S". But regretfully we have no sufficient information to allow a hypothesis also regarding the specific meaning ( number 5) of this entry.

 

Note:
  • Indo-European. According to existing views the words of this entry are related to English "to curve", seen in Entry E 0222 (Hebrew 0748). This is possible, and the indication for Indo-European would be "*K Ū R.-".

     

    The problem is that with this thesis we have once more that situation in which Germanic is nearer to Semitic, with a root "K R S" in both groups, than Indo-European that should be the predecessor of Germanic but does not use that third consonant " S ". This besides the fact that between "KUR" and "KRUS" there would have been a metathesis. This in itself happens now and then between the consonant " R " and an adjacent vowel.

 

 

 

 

 
Created: Tuesday 6 November 2007 at 22.30.54 Updated: 23/11/2012 at 15.35.59