E 0719          (TO)  REEL

The verb " to reel " is of Germanic origin .

H 0802             ל ע ר

Concept of root : to reel

Hebrew word

pronunciation

English meanings

ל ע ר

ra‛al

to reel

Related English words

to reel

Comparison between European words and Hebrew

Languages

Words

Pronunciation

English meanings

Similarity in roots

Hebrew

      ל ע ר

ra‛al

to reel;

to quiver

r . (‛) . l

English

to reel

to reel

r . l

Dutch

reilen ;

-

rillen

r(ei)len

-

rillen

to sway, stagger;

to quiver

r . l

 

 

Proto-Semitic *RA‛AL --- *RĒL- Proto-Germanic

 

 

This Hebrew word is used in older times. In modern Hebrew another meaning, one "to poison" , expressed in the causative verb "hir‛il" has taken the scene. Naturally, intoxicating and poisoning can make the victim reel. The Bible already applied this root also for the movements made by somebody who had too much alcohol. Another meaning, independent from the mentioned ones, is that of wearing a veil.

 

Note:
  • Dutch "reilen" usually is considered an alteration of the verb "rijden = to ride", created for the moving of ships. Others see it even as an intentional hybrid between the verbs "rijden = to ride" and "zeilen = to sail". They point out that "to ride (Dutch rijden) " is also used for ships at anchor. All this is based on the way of reading of an old well known and much used expression in Dutch : "Zoals het reilt en zeilt", litterally "The way it ( the ship) reels and sails". This saying points out that things may go one way or another, go well or less well. And this is told by saying that the ship may "reel", without following too well its intended course or "sail" as it should.

     

    Also the pure existence of English "to reel" and the similarity with the Hebrew root of this entry show that the mentioned suppositions were not right. That similarity is further confirmed in the second meaning of both roots.

 

Note:
  • English "to reel", Middle English "relen", should not be confused with the noun "reel". This noun has a predecessor in Old English that was "hreol" and that is clearly different, both in sound and in meaning. A "reel" simply does not and in fact absolutely should not "reel" if it is to function properly.

 

Note:
  • Proto-Germanic There seems to be no specific information from other languages to support a hypothesis, but a form "*R Ē L-" may have existed already in Proto-Germanic.

 

Note:
  • Hebrew. The Ayin, " ע " , that to the European ear is more like an interruption of sound than a sound in its own right, has an emphasizing effect in speech. In European languages this may correspond with other open sounds, such as the inserting of vowels A or I . Vowels anyhow always have to be pronounced with a Hebrew Ayin.

 

Note:
  • Proto-Semitic. One sees this root in Syriac and Aramaic "ר ע ל , re‛è"" and "l, re‛al = he reeled". There is a basis for a hypothesis of a Proto-Semitic root similar to Hebrew "*ר ע ל , R Ayin L".

 

Note:
  • Indo-European . There seems to be no indication of possible cognates in other Indo-European languages. The comparison remains between Semitic and Germanic.

 

 

 

 
"...the town, to which was given the name Babel, because it was there that the Lord confused the language of all the world on the face of which He dispersed them. GENESIS 11,9"
 
Created: Tuesday 6 November 2007 at 22.30.54 Updated: 25/11/2012 at 17.37.23