Self-correction: Pre-Germanic *dHus-ik-ó-
can't be right. With original stress on the suffix, Verner's Law would have
changed *-s- to *-z- > *-r- (rhotacism), and the Modern English form would be
someting like *derry (this is what happened in deer < OE de:or <
*diuz-a-n < *dHeus-óm). Older forms of dizzy are OE dysig 'foolish', OHG
tusig 'feeble'; I think the productive Germanic suffix *-ig- was attached to
*dus- rather late, when Verner's Law no longer operated. This *dus- is present
in Slavic *dUx-no~-ti 'breathe, exhale, inspire', *dUx-U 'breath', and with a
new full grade in *duxU 'spirit, ghost', *dus^ja 'soul'.
Piotr
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, January 28, 2001 1:12 AM
Subject: Re: [tied] Day and dies, deus and theos
If so, theos would be derived from *dHwes-o-s and related
to English deer and Germman Tier < *dHeus-o-m 'breathing, i.e. living thing;
animal' and dizzy *dHus-ik-ó- 'breathing hard'. But it's a private idea on
which I don't insist.