I don't get it.
----- Original Message -----
From: "H.M. Hubey" <hubeyh@...>
To: <Nostratica@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, February 01, 2003 1:32 AM
Subject: Re: [Nostratica] Cardinal and Ordinal Integers
> Is -ul diminutive in Latin? Always? Just curious.
Not always (and it isn't the only diminutive suffix; another popular one is <-cul->), but it's easy to tell when it is, e.g.:
circus 'ring' --> circ-ul-us '(small) circle'
circle (kirk-ul? <* kirik-ul).
Then circus (kirk-us <* kirik-us?)
Then circ-ul-us < (*kirik-ul-us)? It seems "circle" is "small something". No?
The root *kir seems to be related to *kwel e.g. *kwer/*kwir. No?
re:x 'king' --> re:g-ul-us 'petty king'
puer 'boy' --> puel-l-us (= puer- + -lus) 'little boy'
calx 'stone' --> calc-ul-us 'pebble'
Piotr
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