December theme: Religion 📿

Introduction

*bʰewdʰ- vs. *gʷʰedʰ-: two families that end up being super confusing in Germanic languages, since *bʰ and *gʷʰ merge at the beginning of a word. In English, they end up being homophones with complementary/opposite meanings: "offer" vs. "ask for".

I had to do these two at the same time just to make sure I was tracking which words go where, because the dictionaries and other sources sometimes also mix them up. Even in the rest of the Germanic langauges where the two English bid s aren't complete homonyms the meanings can get awfully confusing; compare German bitten, to ask someone to do something (bid) vs. ver-bieten, to ask someone _not_ to do something (forbidden).

They probably don't have a common derivation. Probably. If they do, it's before reconstructable language.

Also, Happy Bodhi Day (Japanese Calendar variant).

Teaser

bid, forbid, Buddha, bid, bead, geas

Full Text

• Proto-Indo-European *bʰewdʰ- to be awake, to be aware

  • Proto-Indo-European *bʰéwdʰeti being awake, being aware

    • Balto-Slavic *bljaustei

      • Slavic *bljustì to watch

        • East Slavic

          • Russian блюсти bljusti to guard, to keep, to watch over
        • South Slavic

          • Old Church Slavonic блюсти bljusti
          • Serbo-Croatian бљусти bljusti
    • Germanic *beudaną to offer, to bid, to command?

      • West Germanic *beudan

        • Old English bēodan to offer, to give, to announce

          • English bid ^[1]
          • Old English Bīeda

            • English (Saint) Bede (the Venerable)
        • Old High German biotan to offer

          • German bieten to offer, to present, to bid
      • Old Norse bjóða

        • Danish byde to order, to command, to invite, to offer
        • Icelandic bjóða to offer, to invite, to command
      • East Germanic

        • Gothic *biudan
      • Germanic *furibeudaną to forbid, to command against

        • West Germanic *furibeudan

          • Old English forbēodan to forbid, to restrain

            • English forbid
          • Old High German firbiotan

            • German verbieten to forbid, to prohibit
        • Old Norse fyrirbjóða

          • Danish forbyde to disallow, to forbid, to ban
        • East Germanic

          • Gothic 𐍆𐌰𐌿𐍂𐌱𐌹𐌿𐌳𐌰𐌽 faurbiudan to forbid
    • Hellenic *péutʰomai

      • Classical Greek πεύθομαι peúthomai I give notice that

        • Classical Greek πυνθάνομαι punthánomai I hear, I learn, I hear about
    • Indo-Iranian

      • Indo-Aryan

        • Sanskrit 𑀩𑁄𑀥𑀢𑀺 bódhati to wake, to know, to understand

          • Magadhi

            • Bengali বোঝা bojha to understand
      • Iranian

        • Avestan 𐬠𐬀𐬊𐬜𐬀𐬌𐬙𐬌 baoδaiti
        • Western Iranian

          • Old Persian

            • Persian بیدار‏ bīdār awake
  • Proto-Indo-European *bʰudʰtós one who has awoken, one who is known

    • Hellenic

      • Classical Greek πυστός pustós known, familiar, famous
    • Indo-Iranian

      • Indo-Aryan

        • Sanskrit 𑀩𑀼𑀤𑁆𑀥 buddha awoken, enlightened, the Buddha

          • Sauraseni

            • Pali Buddha the enlightened one, the Buddha

              • Thai พุทธ pút Buddha
              • Middle Chinese 佛陀 bɨutdɑ Buddha

                • Mandarin 佛 Fó Buddha
                • Japanese 仏陀 / ぶつだ Butsuda Buddha
                • Korean 부처 Bucheo Buddha
              • Sogdian bwt the Buddha, statue of the Buddha

                • Persian بت bot idol, Buddha statue

                  • Hindi बुत but idol, statue, fetish
                  • Persian بت‌خانه‏ bot-khāne temple, shrine lit. "idol-house"

                    • Hindi बुत-ख़ाना but-khānā temple, pagoda
          • English Buddha
          • Hindi बुद्ध buddh Buddha
          • Telugu బుద్ధుడు buddhuḍu wise person, sage, enlightened person, the Buddha
      • Iranian

        • Avestan busta realized, oberved
  • Proto-Indo-European *bʰowdʰéyeti to make aware, to awaken causative imperfective

    • Balto-Slavic *baudeitei

      • Lithuanian báudyti incite, instigate, to encourage
      • Slavic *buditi to awaken, to rouse

        • East Slavic

          • Russian будить buditʹ to wake up, to awaken
        • South Slavic

          • Serbo-Croatian будити buditi to awaken, to rouse, to begin (of an era, etc.)
        • West Slavic

          • Polish budzić to awaken
    • Indo-Iranian

      • Indo-Aryan

        • Sanskrit 𑀩𑁄𑀥𑀬𑀢𑀺 bodhayati to awaken, to restore to life or consciousness, to cause to observe
      • Iranian

        • Avestan 𐬠𐬀𐬊𐬛𐬀𐬌𐬌𐬈𐬌𐬙𐬌 baodaiieiti
  • Proto-Indo-European *bʰudʰis awareness, awakeness, knowledge

    • Indo-Iranian

      • Indo-Aryan

        • Sanskrit 𑀩𑁄𑀥𑀺 bodhi perfecent knowledge, englightenment, bodhi

          • Pali 𑀩𑁄𑀥𑀺 bodhi perfect knowledge, englightenment, bodhi

            • Middle Chinese

              • Mandarin 菩提 pútí bodhi
              • Japanese 菩提 / ぼだい bodai bodhi
              • Korean 보리 bori bodhi
            • Thai โพธิ poo-tí bodhi
          • English bodhi
          • Sanskrit 𑀩𑁄𑀥𑀺𑀲𑀢𑁆𑀢𑁆𑀯 bodhi-sattva one on the way to enlightenment, Buddhist saint, bodhisattva

            • Pali bodhisatta bodhisattva

              • Arshian bodʰisattu bodhisattva
              • Middle Chinese 菩提薩埵 buo dei sɑt tuɑh bodhisattva

                • Mandarin 菩薩 púsà bodhisattva
                • Japanese 菩薩 / ぼさつ bosatsu bodhisattva
              • Thai โพธิสัตว์ poo-tí-sàt bodhisattva
            • English bodhisattva
            • Persian بودسف Bodisav

              • Arabic بوذسف Būdhasaf

                • Arabic يوذسف Yūdhasaf hand writing mistake changed b to y ^[3]

                  • Georgian ჲოდასაფ Iodasaph ^[3]

                    • Greek Ἰωάσαφ Ioasaph ^[3]

                      • Latin (Sanctus) Iosaphatus assimilated to Biblical name יְהוֹשָׁפָט Yehoshafat ^[3]

                        • English (Saint) Josaphat ^[3]
  • Proto-Indo-European *bʰudʰyétor one who has been awoken, one who has been taught?

    • Indo-Iranian

      • Indo-Aryan

        • Sanskrit 𑀩𑀼𑀥𑁆𑀬𑀢𑁂 búdhyate to wake, to know, to understand

          • Magadhi

            • Bengali বোঝা bojha to understand
      • Iranian

        • Avestan 𐬠𐬏𐬌𐬜𐬌𐬌𐬀𐬉𐬙𐬀 būiδiiaēta they should be taught
  • Proto-Indo-European *bʰudʰéh₁yeti to be particularly awake? intensive imperfective

    • Balto-Slavic *budeʔtei

      • Lithuanian budėti to be awake, to watch, to be on duty
      • Slavic *bъděti

        • East Slavic бъдѣти bŭděti

          • Russian бдеть bdetʹ to keep watch, to keep vigil dated, literary
        • South Slavic

          • Old Church Slavonic бъдѣти bŭděti to watch over, to keep vigil
          • Serbo-Croatian бде̏ти bdȅti to watch over, to keep vigil
        • West Slavic

          • Czech bdít to be awake, to watch over
  • Proto-Indo-European *bʰowdʰos action or result noun

    • Celtic *bowdos

      • Celtic *ɸrobowdos with *ɸro-: "fore-, pro-"

        • Brythonic

          • Welsh rhybudd warning, advice, notice
        • Old Irish robud forenotice
    • Indo-Iranian

      • Indo-Aryan

        • Sanskrit 𑀩𑁄𑀥 bodha

          • Sauraseni

            • Hindustani

              • Hindi बोध bodh insight, knowledge, perception, congition
      • Iranian

        • Avestan 𐬠𐬀𐬊𐬛𐬀 baoda
    • Tocharian *pāut-

      • Arshian pot- to honor, to flatter
      • Kushean paut- to honor, to flatter

        • Kushean pauto honor, flattery
  • Proto-Indo-European *bʰéwdʰtis abstract action noun

    • Balto-Slavic

      • Lithuanian bùsti wake up, wake
    • Hellenic

      • Classical Greek πύστῐς pústis inquiry, question, news, report
    • Indo-Iranian

      • Indo-Aryan

        • Sanskrit 𑀩𑀼𑀤𑁆𑀥𑀺 buddhi intelligence, reason, intellect

          • Madhya Sauraseni

            • Hindi बुद्धि buddhi intelligence
      • Iranian

        • Avestan 𐬠𐬎𐬯𐬙𐬌 busti
  • Proto-Indo-European *bʰudʰo

    • Celtic *budos

      • Brythonic

        • Welsh bodd free will, consent
    • Germanic *budą offer, message

      • West Germanic

        • Old English bod command, order, mandate

          • English bode
      • Old Norse boð

        • Danish bud command, message, guess
        • Icelandic boð message, order, offer, omen
        • Old Norse umboð commission

          • Old Norse umboðsmaðr commissary, representative, steward

            • Icelandic umboðsmaður representative, attorney, agent
            • Swedish ombudsman ombudsman

              • English ombudsman
      • Germanic *budô messenger

        • West Germanic

          • Old English boda messenger, envoy, apostle, angel, prophet

            • English bode
          • Old High German boto messenger, envoy

            • German Bote messenger, letter carrier, apostle

              • German Botschaft news, tidings, embassy
      • Germanic *budilaz messenger, herald, bearer of an order

        • West Germanic

          • Old English bydel herald, warrant officer, announce, preacher

            • English beadle
            • Scots bedel attendant to a minister
          • Old High German butil

            • German Büttel court officer, policeman, menial
          • Frankish *budil

            • Dutch beul executioner, torturer, cruel person
            • Medieval Latin bedellus

              • French bedeau attendant at a church, caretaker of a church
              • Italian bidello caretaker, janitor
              • Spanish bedel janitor
      • Germanic *budōną to proclaim, to announce, to instruct

        • West Germanic

          • Old English bodian announce, foretell, preach

            • English bode

              • English forebode
    • Indo-Iranian

      • Indo-Aryan

        • Sanskrit बुधः budhaḥ Mercury (planet), Puranic Hindu divinity associated with intellect, wit, communication, trade, and the planet Mercury

          • Magadhi

            • Bengali বুধ budh Mercury (planet)
          • Sauraseni

            • Madhya Sauraseni

              • Hindi बुध budh Mercury (planet)
            • Pali

              • Mongolian Буд Bud Mercury (planet)
              • Thai พุธ put

                • Thai ดาวพุธ daao put Mercury (planet)
                • Thai พระพุธ prá put Budha (Hindu deity)
                • Thai วันพุธ wan pút Wednesday
          • Telugu బుధుడు budhuḍu Mercury (planet)
          • Sanskrit बुधवारः budhavāraḥ Mercury-day, Wednesday ^[4]

            • Thai วันพุธ wan pút Wednesday
            • Elu

              • Sinhala බදාදා badādā Wednesday
            • Magadhi

              • Bengali বুধবার budhbar Wendesday
            • Sauraseni

              • Madhya Sauraseni

                • Hindi बुधवार budhvār Wednesday
            • Telugu బుధవారము budhavāramu Wednesday
            • Tibetan གཟའ་ལྷག་པ gza' lhag pa weekday-Mercury, Wednesday

              • Middle Mongolian ᡀᠠᠭᠪᠠ lhaɣba

                • Mongolian лхагва lxagva Wednesday, Mercury
            • Literary Chinese 水曜日 Mercury-day, Wednesday

              • Mandarin 水曜日 shuǐyàorì Wednesday
              • Japanese 水曜日 / すいようび suiyōbi Wednesday
              • Korean 수요일 suyoil Wednesday
  • Proto-Indo-European *bʰudʰrós wakeful adjective

    • Balto-Slavic *budras

      • Lithuanian budrùs vigilant
      • Slavic *bъ̀drъ alert, cheerful

        • East Slavic

          • Russian бодрый bodryj cheerful, brisk, vivacious
        • South Slavic

          • Serbo-Croatian бодар bodar alert, brisk, keen, strong
    • Indo-Iranian

      • Iranian

        • Avestan *budra

          • Avestan 𐬰𐬀𐬉𐬥𐬌𐬠𐬎𐬛𐬭𐬀 zaēnibudra
• Proto-Indo-European *gʷʰedʰ- to request, pray, ask for

  • Proto-Indo-European *gʷʰédʰyeti to be praying, to be asking for

    • Balto-Slavic

      • Lithuanian gedėti to mourn

        • Lithuanian gedėjimas mourning (noun)
      • Slavic *žę̄dàti to wish, to desire

        • East Slavic жѧдати žędati

          • Russian жадать žadatʹ crave, thirst for (archaic)
        • South Slavic

          • Old Church Slavonic жѧдати žędati to thirst, to desire
        • West Slavic

          • Polish żądać to demand
    • Celtic *gʷedyeti to pray

      • Brythonic

        • Welsh gweddïo to pray
      • Old Irish guidid to pray

        • Irish guigh to pray
    • Germanic *bidjaną to request, to ask for

      • East Germanic

        • Gothic 𐌱𐌹𐌳𐌾𐌰𐌽 bidjan to request, to ask, to pray, to beg

          • Gothic 𐌱𐌹𐌳𐌰𐌲𐍅𐌰 bidagwa beggar
      • North Germanic

        • Old Norse biðja to ask, to beg, to request, to pray

          • Danish bede to ask, to beg, to request, to pray
          • Icelandic biðja to ask, to request, to pray
      • West Germanic *biddjan

        • Old English biddan to ask for, to entreat, to beg, to demand

          • English bid ^[1]
        • Frankish

          • Dutch bidden to pray
        • Old High German bitten to ask

          • German bitten to ask, to plead, to beg, to request
    • Indo-Iranian

      • Iranian

        • Avestan 𐬘𐬀𐬌𐬜𐬌𐬌𐬈𐬨𐬌 jaiδiiemi
        • Western Iranian

          • Old Persian 𐎩𐎮𐎡𐎹𐎠𐎷𐎡𐎹 ja-di-i-y-a-mi-i-y I pray
  • Proto-Indo-European *gʷʰedʰeh₂ noun derivation

    • Balto-Slavic

      • Slavic *žęďa thirst, craving, wish, desire

        • East Slavic жажа žaža
        • South Slavic

          • Old Church Slavonic жѩжда žjęžda

            • Russian жажда žažda thirst, craving
          • Serbo-Croatian жеђ(а) žeđ(a) thirst
        • West Slavic

          • Polish żądza lust, craving
    • Germanic *bedō a request, a prayer, a plea

      • East Germanic

        • Gothic 𐌱𐌹𐌳𐌰 bida request, prayer, plea
      • West Germanic *bedu

        • Old English bedu request, prayer, religious worship

          • Old English Bīeda

            • English (Saint) Bede (the Venerable)
          • English bead ^[2]
          • Scots bede prayer, rosary
        • Frankish

          • Dutch bede plea
        • Old High German bita request, inquiry

          • German Bitte request
      • Germanic *bedōną to pray

        • West Germanic *bedōn

          • Old High German betōn to pray

            • German beten to pray
  • Proto-Indo-European *gʷʰédʰtis abstract action noun

    • Proto-Armenian *god-i-? worship?, pagan cult?

      • Old Armenian գոթի gotʿi worship, sorcery
    • Celtic *gʷeddis

      • Brythonic

        • Welsh gweddi prayer
      • Old Irish geis curse, taboo

        • Irish geis magical injunction, spell, prohibition, taboo
        • Scottish Gaelic geas

          • English geas
  • Proto-Indo-European *gʷʰodʰyeh₂

    • Celtic

      • Old Irish guide prayer

        • Irish guí prayer
  • Proto-Indo-European *gʷʰedʰos action or result noun

    • Hellenic

      • Classical Greek πόθος póthos longing, regret, desire unrelated to páthos of similar meaning

        • Greek πόθος póthos longing, regret, desire

Visual

Collected English words

bid, (Saint) Bede (the Venerable), forbid, Buddha, bodhi, bodhisattva, (Saint) Josaphat, bode, ombudsman, bode, beadle, bode, forebode, bid, bead, geas

Footnotes

1. ^

   Old English bēodan, "to offer" and Old English bidda, "to ask for" got confused in Middle English and merge into Modern English bid, resulting in a very confusing pair of homonym-antonyms from different PIE roots.

2. ^

   English bead meant "prayer", then "prayer with a rosary" -> "a rosary" -> "rosary beads" -> "beads in general"

3. ^

   "But not till the mid-nineteenth century was it recognised that, in Josaphat, the Buddha had been venerated as a Christian saint for about a thousand years." - David M. Lang's 1967 introduction to Woodward and Mattingly's 1914 translation of Barlaam and Ioasaph

4. ^

   India and Rome had a shared inheritance of Hellenistic astrology, after the conquests of Alexander the Great expanded and transformed the Persian sphere of influence. When the astrological 7-day week of planetary hours began to replace the 8-day nundinal cycle (see last week) over the first few centuries CE, the idea spread widely through the Hellenistic world and beyond within a few hundred years.