Re: [tied] About the etymology of *nepo:t- "nephew/grandson"

On Sun, 14 Jan 2001 07:21:10 , "Glen Gordon"
<glengordon01@...> wrote:

>I've already come across this idea and was dissatisfied a long time ago.
>"Not-Master"??

"un-able", rather. Just like Latin <in-fans> from "unable to speak",
Greek <ne:-pios> from "un-wise", OIr. <nóidiu> [< *no-widio:n-] from
"un-knowing", Slavic <ot-rokU> from "unable to speak", all meaning
"infant, child".

>Let's face it - It isn't a common kind of compound in IE or
>elsewhere. It seems all the more likely that it meant "father's offspring",

Did it? The meanings "nephew", "cousin" and "son-in-law" are just
about as common as "grandson".


=======================
Miguel Carrasquer Vidal
mcv@...