-ies

Laefevian

Etymology

Unknown. It has been linked to Proto-Laenkean suffixes like *-kʰos or *-k(ʰ)wés, or a compound suffix consisting of *-eces and one of the other two suffixes, resulting in *-eckʰes or something similar. However, there is no definitive answer yet and most proposals face formal issues. It is also likely a Laefevic innovation.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /-ies/ [-ies]

Suffix

-ies (nominal, light s-stem, oblique: -ieh-)

1. (unproductive, fossilised) A structural suffix in certain animal names.

   *giʔǽkjes (“wet, watery”) → jašies (“otter”)

   *pm̥ógos (“red, ruddy”) → ompies (“fox”)

   *pipʼ- (“stinging insect”) → êbis (“bee”)

2. (semi-productive) Forms animal names.

   žêriv (“venom”) → žêrivies (“venomous snake”)

   šiepad (“to pinch”) → šiepies (“scorpion”)

   varǧ (“ant”) → varǧies (“ant”)

   launad (“to sing”) → launies (“songbird”)

   guorþ (“beak, bill”) → guorþies (“platypus”)

   hmelad (“to change”) → hmelies (“amoeba”)

3. (taxonomy) Forms certain taxa names.

   tulše (“bag”) → tulšies (“marsupial”)

   buhket (“hoof”) → buhkies (“ungulate”)

   þêv (“whale”) → þêvies (“cetacean”)

Derived terms

▶ Laefevian terms suffixed with -ies

See also

• -ga (bird-deriving suffix)