Reconstruction:Proto-Slavic/gavědь

This Proto-Slavic entry contains reconstructed terms and roots. As such, the term(s) in this entry are not directly attested, but are hypothesized to have existed based on comparative evidence.

Proto-Slavic

Etymology

Per Brückner, Mladenov, Trubačev: originally a collective noun from *gaviti (“to vex, to blemish”) +‎ *-ědь (doubted by Vasmer). Apparently, cognate with Lithuanian govėdà (“lots, multitude”), which is akin to góvija, góvėna (“mob, gang”) and likely gaujà (“pack”). Further origin uncertain. Proposals have been made for descent from Proto-Indo-European *gʷōu- (“to stir, to muddle, to defecate”) or from the onomatopoeia Proto-Slavic *gavati (“to bark, to roar”).

Comparison has also been drawn to *govь, *govędo (“cattle”) and furthermore Lithuanian guõtas (“group, flock”). Per Lubotsky, perhaps all of them ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gʷeh₃- (“to consume, to sustain”). If right, then possibly also related to Proto-Germanic *kudją (“herd, livestock”).

Noun

*gavědь f

disordered state
→ filth, dirt

→ (figurative) low behaviour, disgrace
disorganized group of people/animals (crowd, mob)
→ wild stock
Antonym: *dobytъkъ

→ wild creature, beast
Synonyms: *zvěrь, *dikъ, *gadina

Alternative forms

*gavěda (ā-stem)

Declension

Declension of *gavědь (i-stem)

	singular	dual	plural
nominative	*gavědь	*gavědi	*gavědi
genitive	*gavědi	gavědьju, gavěďu^*	gavědьjь, gavědi^*
dative	*gavědi	*gavědьma	*gavědьmъ
accusative	*gavědь	*gavědi	*gavědi
instrumental	gavědьjǫ, gavěďǫ^*	*gavědьma	*gavědьmi
locative	*gavědi	gavědьju, gavěďu^*	*gavědьxъ
vocative	*gavědi	*gavědi	*gavědi

^* The second form occurs in languages that contract early across /j/ (e.g. Czech), while the first form occurs in languages that do not (e.g. Russian).

Some descendants have readjusted (probably diachronically) the gender of meaning “wild creature, beast” to masculine: