Re: [tied] Proto-Indo-European WITCH

19-08-03 14:09, Piotr Gasiorowski wrote:

>
>> Is it derived from a causative *weik^-ye/o- "make yield"/"make weak"?
>
> The correct PIE causative of *weik^- would have been *woik^eje/o-,
> yielding PGmc. *waigjan- (Verner's Law applies in these formations). Its
> reflexes are indeed attested: OE wæ:gan, OHG weigen 'to trouble, afflict'.

A belated correction: it's *weik- rather than *weik^- (no satemisation
in Balto-Slavic). No difference in Germanic, of course.

Piotr

P.S. The original meaning of the causative verb was 'make fight, engage'
or something of the kind.

P.