Re: [tied] Jordanes Dacian or Gothic 'bi-lageineis'

On 2006-04-12 00:56, alexandru_mg3 wrote:

> A similar attested term for 'law' (I mean similar somehow with the
> Latin le:x) is Jordanes' 'bi-lageineis' [that could mean "by-
> laws"? ].
>
> I'm confused if 'bi-lageineis' is really a Dacian term or a Germanic
> one, due to Jordanes confusion between Goths and Getai :
> Jordanes talks about dacian Decaineus that write these laws however
> is not sure if Jordanes used his own Gothic term for them or the
> Dacian one:

<bilageineis> is the plural of *bi-lageins, where the <-lageins> part
means 'laying, something laid or imposed' (cf. Ger. Belegung), cf.
Biblical Goth. analageins 'laying on, superimposition' (= OE onlegen
'medicinal plaster'), aflageins 'laying aside, forgiving, absolution',
faúrlageins 'laying forth, presentation' (cf. Ger. Vorlegung).
Definitely 100% Germanic and 0% Dacian. Cf. Eng. law < OE lagu 'law,
statute, regulation' (inspired by Scandinavian legal terminology). This
word-family belongs to the PIE etymon of *legH- 'lie' (caus.
*logH-éje/o- 'lay'), so its similarity to Lat. lex is superficial and
accidental.

Piotr