----- Original Message -----
From: "H.M. Hubey" <hubeyh@...>
To: <Nostratica@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, February 01, 2003 2:55 AM
Subject: Re: [Nostratica] Cardinal and Ordinal Integers



> I don't get it.
> circle (kirk-ul? <* kirik-ul).
> Then circus (kirk-us <* kirik-us?)
> Then circ-ul-us < (*kirik-ul-us)?

Why *kirik-? The Latin root is simply <circ->. Add diminutive <-(u)l-> and a masculine ending, and you get <circulus> (or the variant <circlus>, also found in Latin). It's a productive way of forming diminutives in Latin. What's your problem with it?

> It seems "circle" is "small something". No?

Yes, originally a small ring, as opposed to a large one, such as a racing course (hence our "circus")

> The root *kir seems to be related to *kwel e.g. *kwer/*kwir. No?

Nope. Latin *kirk- seems somehow related to Gk. kirkos/krikos 'ring' and possibly to Lat. curvus 'bent'. These words cannot be related to *kWel-.

Piotr