October theme: Nighttime 🌃

Teaser

measure, meal, moon, month, medicine, modest, modem

Full Text

• Proto-Indo-European *meh₁- to measure

  • Proto-Indo-European *miméh₁ti

    • Indo-Iranian *mimáHti

      • Indo-Aryan

        • Sanskrit मिमीते mimīte to measure, to mark off
      • Iranian

        • Avestan 𐬟𐬭𐬀𐬨𐬍𐬨𐬀𐬚𐬁
  • Proto-Indo-European *moh₁ros big, great

    • Celtic *māros big, great

      • Brythonic *mọr

        • Welsh mawr large, big, great
      • Old Irish mór big, great

        • Irish mór big, large, great
      • Celtic *Katumāros Battle-Great personal name

        • Gaulish

          • Latin Catumarus
      • Celtic *Lūtumāros Fury-Great personal name

        • Gaulish

          • Latin Lutumarus
        • Lepontic 𐌋𐌀𐌕𐌖𐌌𐌀𐌓𐌖𐌉 Latumarui
      • Celtic *Segomāros Victory-Great personal name

        • Gaulish

          • Classical Greek Σεγομαρος Segomaros
      • Celtic *mārāti to enlarge

        • Old Irish móraid to make great, to glorify, to praise, to increase
      • Gaulish

        • Byzantine Greek μάραον máraon sweet chestnut a large nut

          • Italian marrone chestnut, chestnut tree, chestnut brown

            • French marron chestnut, brown

              • English maroon
  • Proto-Indo-European *mēh₁rós big, great

    • Balto-Slavic

      • Slavic *-měrъ

        • Slavic *Voldiměrъ Great-Power personal name ^[1]

          • East Slavic Володимѣръ Volodiměrŭ ^[1]

            • Ukrainian Володи́мир Volodýmyr
            • Danish Valdemar ^[1]

              • English Valdemar
          • South Slavic

            • Old Church Slavonic Владимѣръ Vladiměrŭ ^[1]

              • Old Church Slavonic Vladimȋrъ ^[1]

                • Russian Влади́мир Vladímir

                  • English Vladimir
                • Polish Włodzimierz
    • Germanic *mēraz great, excellent, famous

      • Germanic *mērijaną to praise, to proclaim

        • East Germanic

          • Gothic 𐌼𐌴𐍂𐌾𐌰𐌽 mērjan to proclaim, to preach
        • North Germanic

          • Old Norse mæra

            • Icelandic mæra
        • West Germanic

          • Old English mǣran
          • Frankish *māren

            • Dutch maren to announce, to make known

              • Dutch vermaren to make famous

                • Dutch vermaard renowned
        • Germanic *mērijaz famous

          • North Germanic ᛗᚨᚱᛁᛉ mariz

            • Old Norse mærr famous, glorious, illustrious
          • West Germanic

            • Old English mǣre famous, renowned, sterling (silver)
            • Frankish *mēri

              • Middle Dutch mâre famous, honored, prestigious, message, rumor
            • Old High German māri

              • German Mär tidings, news, story

                • German Märchen fable, fairy tale
      • Germanic *Mērijawīgą Famous-Battle personal name

        • West Germanic

          • Frankish *Mērowīg ^[2]

            • Latin Meroveus

              • Latin Merovingi the descendants of Meroveus/Merovech

                • French mérovingien Merovingian

                  • English Merovingian
          • Old High German Mārwīg
      • Germanic *Aþalamērijaz Noble-Famous personal name

        • West Germanic

          • Old English Æþelmǣr

            • English Elmer
          • Frankish Athalmēr

            • Dutch Adelmar
            • Old French

              • Norman Adelmar

                • Spanish Edelmir
      • Germanic *Raginamērijaz Counsel-Famous personal name

        • East Germanic

          • Gothic Ranamēr

            • Latin Ranamirus

              • Spanish Ramiro

                • Spanish Ramirez
      • Germanic *Wiljamērijaz Will-Famous personal name

        • North Germanic

          • Old Norse Vilmærr

            • Danish Vilmar
        • West Germanic

          • Old English Wilmǣr

            • English Wilmer
      • Germanic *mēriþō fame, renown, reputation

        • East Germanic

          • Gothic 𐌼𐌴𐍂𐌹𐌸𐌰 mēriþa fame
        • North Germanic

          • Old Norse mærð

            • Icelandic mærð praise, flattery
        • West Germanic

          • Old English mǣrþo
  • Proto-Indo-European *méh₁tis measurement action noun

    • Albanian mot weather, year
    • Germanic *mēþiz measure, degree

      • West Germanic

        • Old English mǣþ moderation
    • Hellenic

      • Classical Greek μῆτις mêtis

        • Classical Greek Μῆτις Mêtis Metis, Divinity of Prudence mother of Athena

          • Latin Metis

            • English Metis
    • Italic *mētis

      • Latin *mētis

        • Latin mēta goal post, boundary markert

          • Central Romance

            • Italian meta destination, goal, boundary marker
          • Western Romance

            • Spanish meta goal, target
        • Latin mētior I measure, I estimate, I traverse, I distribute

          • Latin mēnsus measured, estimated, distributed

            • Latin mēnsūra measuring, standard for measure, amount

              • Central Romance

                • Italian misura measure, measurement, size, moderation
              • Eastern Romance

                • Romanian măsură measure
              • Western Romance

                • French mesure measure, measurement

                  • English measure
                  • Irish miosúr measure, tape measure
                • Spanish mesura moderation, mesuring glass
              • Old Irish mesar measure, measuring vessel

                • Irish measair measure
              • Vulgar Latin mēnsūrō I measure, I estimate

                • Central Romance

                  • Italian misurare to measure, to gauge, to survey, to estimate, to appraise, to try on
                • Eastern Romance

                  • Romanian a măsura to measure, to estimate, to judge, to calculate
                • Western Romance

                  • French mesurer to measure
                  • Spanish mesurar to temper
            • Latin immēnsus immeasurable, boundless, immense

              • Central Romance

                • Italian immenso
              • Western Romance

                • French immense

                  • English immense
                • Spanish inmenso
  • Proto-Indo-European *meh₁lom measurement, time

    • Germanic *mēlą measurement, time, occasion, meal time

      • East Germanic

        • Gothic 𐌼𐌴𐌻 mēl a point in time, hour
      • North Germanic

        • Old Norse mál measurement, size, time, mealtime, meal

          • Danish mål goal, measuring cup
          • Icelandic mál measurement, size, time, mealtime, meal
      • West Germanic

        • Old English mǣl measure, time, occasion, season, mealtime, meal

          • English meal
        • Frankish *māl

          • Dutch maal meal, time, turn, occurrence
        • Old High German māl

          • German Mahl meal archaic

            • German Mahlzeit mealtime, meal
          • Yiddish מאָל mol time, instance, times (multiplied by)
    • Proto-Indo-European *sm̥-meh₁lom one-time

      • Italic

        • Latin semel once, a single time

          • English semel-
  • Proto-Indo-European *méh₁trom

    • Hellenic

      • Classical Greek μέτρον métron something used to measure, rule, weight, length, breadth, meter (poetic)

        • Greek μέτρο métro measure, meter (length), meter (poetry), moderation
        • Latin metrum a measure, meter (poetic)

          • Central Romance

            • Italian metro meter (length), ruler, criterion
          • Western Romance

            • French mètre

              • English meter
            • Spanish metro meter (length), ruler, measuring tape
          • Old English

            • English meter
        • Classical Greek μετρικός metrikós

          • Latin metricus

            • Central Romance

              • Italian metrica meter (poetic)
            • Western Romance

              • French metrique metric, metrical, meter (poetic)
              • Spanish métrica meter (poetic)
  • Proto-Indo-European *mḗh₁n̥s moon, month the moon measures time

    • Proto-Albanian *māsnja

      • Albanian muaj month
    • Old Armenian ամիս amis month

      • Armenian ամիս amis month
    • Balto-Slavic *meˀn(e)s-

      • East Baltic

        • Lithuanian mė́nuo month, moon
      • Balto-Slavic *meˀns(e)nko-

        • Slavic *mě̀sę̄cь moon, month

          • East Slavic

            • Russian ме́сяц mésjac month, moon
          • South Slavic

            • Old Church Slavonic мѣсѧць měsęcĭ moon, month
            • Serbo-Croatian ме̏се̄ц mȅsēc moon, month
          • West Slavic

            • Polish miesiąc month
        • West Baltic

          • Old Prussian menig
    • Celtic *mīns

      • Brythonic *mis

        • Welsh mis month
      • Old Irish mí month

        • Irish mí month

          • Irish Mí na Nollag December "Month of Christmass/Noël"
    • Germanic *mēnô moon

      • East Germanic

        • Gothic 𐌼𐌴𐌽𐌰 mēna moon
      • North Germanic *mānō

        • Old Norse máni the moon

          • Danish måne moon, bald spot
          • Icelandic máni the moon (archaic) replaced by tungl
        • Samic *mānō

          • Northern Sami mánnu moon

            • Northern Sami -mánnu -month used in names of all 12 months
            • Northern Sami mánotbadji month "moon sojourn, time moon takes"
      • West Germanic

        • Old English mōna moon

          • English moon
          • Scots muin moon, month
        • Frankish *māno

          • Dutch maan moon
        • Old High German māno moon

          • German Mond moon, lunar month
      • West Germanic *mēniniz dagaz Monday ^[3]

        • West Germanic

          • Old English mōnandæg Monday

            • English Monday
            • Scots Monanday Monday
          • Frankish *mānendag

            • Dutch maandag Monday
          • Old High German mānitag Monday

            • German Montag Monday
            • Yiddish מאָנטיק montik Monday
        • Old Norse mánadagr Monday ^[3]

          • Danish mandag Monday
          • Icelandic mánudagur Monday
          • Finnish maanantai Monday
          • Northern Sami mánnodat Monday
      • Germanic *mēnōþs month

        • East Germanic

          • Gothic 𐌼𐌴𐌽𐍉𐌸𐍃 mēnōþs month
        • North Germanic

          • Old Norse mánaðr month

            • Danish måned month
            • Icelandic mánuður month
        • West Germanic

          • Old English mōnaþ month

            • English month
            • Scots moneth month
          • Frankish *mānoth

            • Dutch maand month
          • Old High German mānōd month

            • German Monat month
            • Yiddish מאָנאַט monat month
    • Hellenic *mḗns

      • Classical Greek μείς meís month, visible part of the moon

        • Greek μήνας mínas month
      • Classical Greek μήνη mḗnē moon

        • Classical Greek μηνίσκος mēnískos crescent

          • Greek μηνίσκος minískos crescent, meniscus
          • English meniscus
        • Classical Greek Ἀλκμήνη Alkmḗnē Strength-of-Moon personal name

          • Latin Alcmēnē Alcmene

            • English Alcmene
        • Classical Greek Μενέλᾱος Menélāos ^[4]

          • Latin Menelāus

            • English Menelaus
    • Italic *mēns-

      • Latin mēnsis month

        • Sardinian mese month
        • Central Romance

          • Italian mese month
        • Western Romance

          • French mois month
          • Spanish mes month
        • Latin mēnstruus

          • Latin mēnstruālis monthly, every month

            • Western Romance

              • French menstruel menstrual

                • English menstrual
              • Spanish menstrual menstrual
        • Latin trimestris three month period

          • Central Romance

            • Italian trimestre quarter (year), three-month period, term, trimester, quarterly payment
          • Eastern Romance

            • Romanian trimestru
          • Western Romance

            • French trimestre quarter (year), term, trimester

              • English trimester
            • Spanish trimestre trimester
        • New Latin sēmestris six month period

          • German Semester semester

            • English semester
      • Umbrian 𐌌𐌄𐌍𐌆𐌍𐌄 menzne month
    • Indo-Iranian *mā́Has moon, month

      • Indo-Aryan *mā́Has

        • Sanskrit मास् mā́s moon, month
      • Iranian *mā́Hah

        • Avestan måŋh month, moon
        • Northern Iranian

          • Scythian

            • Ossetian мæй mæj moon, month
          • Pashto مياشت myāšt month
        • Western Iranian

          • Kurdish meh month
          • Old Persian 𐎶𐎠𐏃 māha month, moon

            • Persian ماه mâh moon, month, lovely

              • Hindi माह māh month
        • Iranian *mā́Hhtáwbah moonlight

          • Northern Iranian

            • Sogdian mahtob moon
          • Western Iranian

            • Old Persian

              • Persian مهتاب mahtâb moonlight
      • Indo-Iranian *mā́Hasas of the moon gen.

        • Indo-Aryan

          • Sanskrit मास mā́sa moon, month

            • Magadhi

              • Bengali মাস mas month
            • Sauraseni 𑀫𑀸𑀲 māsa

              • Madhya Sauraseni

                • Hindi मास mās month
              • Pali māsa month
            • Telugu మాసము māsamu month
            • Sanskrit ?

              • Maharashtri

                • Marathi महिना mahinā month ^[5]
              • Sauraseni

                • Madhya Sauraseni

                  • Hindi महीना mahīnā month ^[5]
                • Pahari

                  • Punjabi ਮਹੀਨਾ mahīnā month ^[5]
        • Nuristani *mā́sa moon

          • Kamviri mōs moon
    • Tocharian

      • Arshian mañ moon, month
      • Kushean meñe moon, month
  • Proto-Indo-European *meh₁d- to measure, to consider, to give advice, to heal

    • Proto-Indo-European *mḗh₁d-eti

      • Proto-Albanian *matśi

        • Albanian mas to measure
      • Celtic *medeti to measure, to judge

        • Brythonic *mėðɨd to measure, to judge

          • Middle Welsh meddu
        • Old Irish midithir to weight, to judge, to estimate
      • Germanic *metaną to measure

        • North Germanic

          • Old Norse meta

            • Icelandic meta to measure, to assess, to esteem
        • West Germanic

          • Old English metan to measure

            • English mete (out)
          • Frankish *metan

            • Dutch meten to measure
          • Old High German mezzan

            • German messen to measure, to complete
      • Hellenic

        • Classical Greek μέδω médō to protect, to rule over

          • Classical Greek μέδων médōn ruler, councillor
          • Classical Greek Μέδουσᾰ Médousa She Rules

            • Latin Medusa

              • English Medusa
        • Classical Greek μέδομαι médomai to provide for, to think of, to be mindful of
    • Proto-Indo-European *meh₁deh₁(ye)-ti

      • Italic *medēōr

        • Latin medeor

          • Latin medicus

            • Central Romance

              • Italian medico doctor

                • Italian Medici Doctor (occupational surname)

                  • English Medici
            • English medic
            • Brythonic *meðïg

              • Welsh meddyg

                • Welsh meddyglyn metheglin lit. "medicinal liquor"

                  • English metheglin
            • Latin medicīnus medical

              • Latin medicīna medicine, remedy, the practice of healing substantive

                • Central Romance

                  • Italian medicina medicine
                • Western Romance

                  • Old French

                    • French médecine medicine (field of study)
                    • English medicine
                  • Spanish medicina medicine
            • Medieval Latin medicālis

              • French

                • English medical
            • Latin meditor I consider, I contemplate, I plan, I practive, I meditate frequentive

              • English meditate
              • French méditer
              • Spanish meditar
            • Latin remedium remedy, cure, medicine, aid, assistance

              • Central Romance

                • Italian rimedio remedy, cure, medicine
              • Eastern Romance

                • Romanian remediu remedy
              • Western Romance

                • French remède remedy

                  • English remedy
                • Spanish remedio remedy, solution, medicine, amendment
              • Latin remedialis

                • English remedial
    • Proto-Indo-European *mēh₁dyé-ti

      • Tocharian *mei- to think

        • Tocharian *meim

          • Arshian mem thought, thinking
          • Kushean maim thought, thinking
    • Proto-Indo-European *méh₁dtus

      • Celtic *messus

        • Old Irish mess judgement
    • Proto-Indo-European *mḗh₁dos

      • Old Armenian միտ mit mind, intellect, understanding, reason, intent, advice

        • Armenian միտք mitkʿ brains, intellect, idea, intention
      • Hellenic

        • Classical Greek μήδεα mḗdea plan, art, prudence, counsel

          • Classical Greek μήδομαι mḗdomai to deliberate, to advise, to estimate
          • Classical Greek Μήδεια Mḗdeia

            • Greek Μήδεια Mídeia
            • Latin Medea

              • English Medea
          • Classical Greek Ἀρχιμήδης Arkhimḗdēs

            • Greek Αρχιμήδης Archimídis
            • Latin Archimēdēs

              • English Archimedes
          • Classical Greek Γανυμήδης Ganumḗdēs

            • Greek Γανυμήδης Ganymídis
            • Etruscan 𐌂𐌀𐌕𐌌𐌉𐌕𐌄 catmite

              • Latin catamitus

                • English catamite
            • Latin Ganymede

              • English Ganymede
    • Proto-Indo-European *moh₁dós

      • Italic *modos

        • Latin modus measure, limit, manner, mode, (grammatical) mood

          • Central Romance

            • Italian modo manner, way, style, (grammatical) mood
          • Western Romance

            • Old French

              • French mode fashion, trend, means, mode, (grammatical) mood

                • English à la mode
                • Vietnamese mốt fashion, trend
              • English mode

                • English (grammatical) mood
            • Spanish modo way, (grammatical) mood
          • Latin modo just, only, just now, presently

            • Central Romance

              • Italian mo' now regional

                • Italian a mo' di like, as, by way of
            • Western Romance
            • Latin quōmodo how lit. "what mode"

              • Vulgar Latin *quōmo how, like, as

                • Central Romance

                  • Italian come how, as, such as, as soon as
                • Eastern Romance

                  • Romanian cum how, as, because
                • Western Romance

                  • French comme like, as, how, because

                    • French comment how
                  • Spanish como as, how, since
            • Medieval Latin Quasimodo the Sunday one week before Easter ^[6]
          • Latin modicus moderate, restrained, reasonable

            • Central Romance

              • Italian modico low, modest, reasonable
            • Western Romance

              • French modique low, modest, limited
              • Spanish módico moderate, modest, limited, scarce
            • Latin modicum a little, a small amount

              • English modicum
          • Latin modificō I limit, I control, I regulate

            • Central Romance

              • Italian modificare to change, to modify
            • Western Romance

              • French modifier to change, to modify

                • English modify
              • Spanish modificar to modify
          • Latin moderor I limit, I moderate, I restrain, I manage, I control

            • Central Romance

              • Italian moderare to moderate
            • Western Romance

              • French modérer to moderate, to lessen, to weaken
              • Spanish moderar to moderate
            • Latin moderātus moderated, controlled

              • English moderate
          • Latin modestus moderate, calm, discreet, modest

            • Central Romance

              • Italian modesto modest, small
            • Western Romance

              • French modeste modest

                • English modest
              • Spanish modesto modest
          • Latin modulus a small measure, a small piece, a water meter, rhythm or time signature (music)

            • Western Romance

              • Old French modle

                • French moule mold, matrix, cake pan
                • English mold
            • English modulus
            • French module

              • English module
            • Latin modulor I measure, I regulate, I beat time, I modulate

              • Central Romance

                • Italian modulare to modulate
              • Western Romance

                • French moduler to modulate
                • Spanish modular to modulate
              • English modulate

                • English modem
          • Latin commodus convenient, suitable, pleasant, timely

            • Central Romance

              • Italian comodo convenient, comfortable
            • Western Romance

              • French commode convenient

                • English commode
                • English comodo
              • Spanish cómodo comfortable, convenient, lazy
            • English commodious
            • Latin commodō I make convenient, I adapt, I bestow, I lend, I hire

              • Latin accommodō I adapt, I prepare (for use), I adjust, I accommodate, I support

                • Central Romance

                  • Italian accomodare to repair, to arrange, to accommodate, to be suitable
                • Western Romance

                  • French accommoder to accommodate
                  • Spanish acomodar to accommodate, to usher, to settle, to be suitable
                • English accommodate
    • Proto-Indo-European *méh₁dō

      • Germanic *mētō measure, size

        • West Germanic

          • Frankish *māta

            • Dutch maat measure, size, rhythm
          • Old High German māza

            • German Maß size, extent, measure note, unrelated to Masse: "mass" from Latin and Greek
            • Yiddish מאָס mos measure
    • Proto-Indo-European ?

      • Indo-Iranian

        • Iranian

          • Avestan vīmad physician

Visual

Collected English words

maroon, Valdemar, Vladimir, Merovingian, Elmer, Wilmer, Metis, measure, immense, meal, semel-, meter, meter, moon, Monday, month, meniscus, Alcmene, Menelaus, menstrual, trimester, semester, mete (out), Medusa, Medici, medic, metheglin, medicine, medical, meditate, remedy, remedial, Medea, Archimedes, catamite, Ganymede, à la mode, mode, (grammatical) mood, modicum, modify, moderate, modest, mold, modulus, module, modulate, modem, commode, comodo, commodious, accommodate

Footnotes

1. ^

   The 12th century Danish King, Valdemar I, was named after his maternal great-grandfather, Volodimer II Monomakh, Prince of Kiev (Old East Slavic/Ukrainian)

   Volodimer II Monomakh was in turn the great-grandson of Volodiměrъ I, called (Saint) Vladimir the Great in English and Владимѣръ Vladiměrŭ in Old Church Slavonic. In later Old Church Slavonic, the second morpheme in Saint Vladimir's name was modified by folk etymology to *mȋrъ: "peace, world" instead of *měrъ: "famous, great".

   Side note, on his father's side, Valdemar I was the great-grandson of Sweyn II of Denmark, who was born in England, while his uncle Cnut the Great was king of both Denmark and England (and later also Norway, forming the "North Sea Empire"). Sweyn II was the great-grandson of Harald Bluetooth, the eponym of the wireless data exchange standard.

   It's also possible that the name was Germanic to begin with (Old Norse Valdemarr, of the same meaning) and adapted to Slavic instead of the other way around. Volodiměrъ I is a member of the Rurikid dynasty and while his father Sviatoslav had a Slavic-origin name, his grandfather Igor (Ingvar) and great-grandfather Rurik (Hrǿríkʀ/Roderick) had Germanic-origin names. The Germanic name Valdemar (*Waldąmēra) would be a perfectly expected name, but it is not attested in Germanic before the Valdemar I. (I also can't think of any other Germanic names that use *waldą as a first element rather than a second element, but many elements can be used in either position.)

2. ^

   The Frankish king *Mērowīg's name (when not Latinised as Meroveus) is spelled as "Merovech" in the Latin alphabet. This makes sense given on the one hand the Latin V/U/W conflation, and on the other hand likely final-obstruent devoicing in Frankish turning /g/ into [k] or [x]. Final-obstruent devoicing, which now occurs throughout continental West Germanic, probably originates in Frankish: it is first attested in Old Dutch, but Old French also shows signs of final-obstruent devoicing in its Frankish influenced vocabulary.

3. ^

   West Germanic *mēniniz dagaz, literally "Moon's day" is a calque of Latin dīes Lūnae: "day of the Moon", which in turn is a calque of Classical Greek hēmérā Selḗnēs. Old Norse is suggested to have calqued mánadagr in turn from one of the West Germanic languages, rather than getting it directly form Latin, or inheriting it from Common Germanic.

   I had to cut off this note at this point, because it was threatened to turn into a full essay on weekday names. I'll complete that later.

4. ^

   Formally, the first morpheme in "Menelaus" is μένος: "power, rage", or possibly μένω: "I stand fast, I abide, I wait for". But with the precedent of the archaic name "Alkmḗnē", and given that there a quite a number of good reasons to speculate that Helen (Menelaus's wife) is a reflex of the Proto-Indo-European Sun Goddess, Hausos, I have to wonder if "Menélaos": "People's-Rage" might be an eggcorn of an archaic "Ménelaos": "Moon-Warrior".

   Compare also, "the lofty halls of famous Menelaus shone like the dazzling light of sun or moon." From Book 4 of the Odyssey (Wilson 2017 translation).

5. ^

   The resemblance between Hindi or Punjabi mahīnā meaning "month" and Hawai'ian or Tongan mahina meaning "moon, month" is entirely coincidental. The second is the expected descendant of Proto-Polynesian *masina: "moon", which is a descendent of Proto-Austronesian *siNaʀ: "light" (*ma- is a common productive prefix). Cognates include Tagalog sinag: "sunshine" and Fijian cina: "torch".

6. ^

   Medieval Latin Quasimodo: "the Sunday one week before Easter" is after the traditional entrance antiphon for mass on this day: "Quasi modo geniti infantes..." ("As if newborn babes..."). The character named Quasimodo in Victor Hugo's novel was left at the cathedral as a foundling on this day, and so given the name of the day.