From: Rob
Message: 40808
Date: 2005-09-28
> ***Is Latin _praebeo:_ presumed from *praihibeo:, from IE *pra:i-
> Patrick:
>
> Well, firstly, I think the meaning for *ghabh- in Latin
> praebeo:, 'proffer', OHG geban, 'give', and Lithuanian
> gabenĂ¹, 'take away', is the original one. I believe this word
> originally referred to a ritual act of hanging things on a tree or
> post as an offering to a deity or ruler. The giver presents, and
> the receptor can say: "This gold has been offered to me" = "I
> take/have this gold (via an offering)". The term *ghabh(o)lo- is
> instructive in this regard: '*place where offerings are hanged,
> fork of branch'.