Re: [tied] Re: bg. nvEsta

From: alex_lycos
Message: 20416
Date: 2003-03-27

Daniel J. Milton wrote:
> --- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "alex_lycos" <altamix@...> wrote:
>> which is the etymology of bulgarian word "nevEsta"= Ehefrau, wife ?
>>
>> Alex
> ******
> From Buck's "Synonyms" again:
> ChSl. 'nevesta' "bride" < neg. prefix 'ne' and fem.
> of 'vestu' "known", hence the "unknown", that is, the newcomer in
> the husband's family. Generalized in Old Polish 'niewasta' to be
> the word for "woman" in general
> Piotr, did Polish men regard all women as potential brides, or
> just find them impossible to really know?
> Dan


hmmmm.. In Rom. it means just "wife" and not "bride".
What about the word "vesta"?
Vesdta was the godess of the animals around the house, the one who took
care of the life around the house..
I guess it fits more better semanticaly as "known/unknown".