Re: 'dyeus'

From: Francesco Brighenti
Message: 66271
Date: 2010-07-08

--- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "megalith6" <megalith6@...> wrote:

> where did the connection between 'shine' and 'day' come in?


From PIE *dei- 'shine, be bright' are derived:

a) *dye(u)- 'day' [BECAUSE THE DAY IS BRIGHT!] > *deino- (with the full-grade) ~ *dino- (with the zero-grade) 'day';

b) *dyeu- 'sky' [THE SKY IS BRIGHT IN THE DAYTIME!] > *d(i)ye:us- 'sky god' and *deiwós (an o-stem derivative of *dyeu-) 'god, deity' (that is, a "celestial" being) > *diwyós (a derivative adjective) 'divine'.

Among the PIE roots for 'shine, be bright', *dei- may, therefore, have been primarily concerned with the brightness of the sky in particular (viz., not with that of, say, fire).

Kindest regards,
Francesco Brighenti