Re: 'dyeus', "because the day is bright"

Thanks.

So why is IE 'bright' universally given a male gender "sky god" - this adjective 'bright' must have originally been gender-neutral.

Ric

--- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "Francesco Brighenti" <frabrig@...> wrote:
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> --- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "megalith6" <megalith6@> wrote:
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> > where did the connection between 'shine' and 'day' come in?
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> From PIE *dei- 'shine, be bright' are derived:
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> a) *dye(u)- 'day' [BECAUSE THE DAY IS BRIGHT!] > *deino- (with the full-grade) ~ *dino- (with the zero-grade) 'day';
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> 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'.
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> 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).
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> Kindest regards,
> Francesco Brighenti
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