Word Family - Vet

Introduction

I've included (possibly) two families again in this one, Proto-Indo-European *wet-: "year, year-old" and Proto-Indo-European *wósr̥: "spring (season)". There's no formal connection, but it's not hard to imagine on either the phonetic or the semantic level.

Acrostatic *ó-r̥ nouns like *wósr̥ are from very early PIE. You could imagine that this particular one is pre-PIE and a palatalization changed *wótr̥ to *wósr̥ that was no longer active in PIE, and *wósr̥ became disconnected from its paradigm.

For the semantic, consider for example the Italian and Spanish use of primavera for both "spring" and "year" (in certain contexts), as well as the common use of "winters" to mean "years".

Teaser

veteran, veterinarian, violin, fiddle, vellum, veal, Italy, bellwether, vernal, primavera

Full Text

  • Proto-Indo-European *wet- year, year-old
    • Proto-Indo-European *wéts
      • Anatolian
        • Hittite 𒌑𒄿𒀉 ú-i-it- year more often written with 𒈬 MU Sumerogram for "year"
    • Proto-Indo-European *wétos year
      • Pre-Albanian *weta
        • Albanian vit
        • Albanian vjet last year
      • Hellenic
        • Mycenaean Greek 𐀸𐀵 we-to year
          • Mycenaean Greek 𐀸𐀳𐀂𐀸𐀳𐀂 we-te-i we-te-i year by year, every year
        • Classical Greek ἔτος étos year
          • Classical Greek ἔνος énos
            • Classical Greek δίενος two years old
            • Classical Greek ἐνιαυτός eniautós anniversary, year
      • Italic *wetos
        • Latin vetus old, former
          • Central Romance
            • Italian ​​vieto old, antiquated, stale
          • Eastern Romance
            • Romanian biet unhappy, sad, poor
          • Latin vetus lēx old law
            • Old Irish fetarlicc the Old Testament from ablative vetere lēge, or Vulgar Latin accusative *veterẽ legẽ
          • Latin vetulus old, little old, little old man diminutive
            • Late Latin veclus
              • Central Romance
                • Dalmatian vieclo old
                • Italian vecchio old, old fashioned, worn out, mature, ripe, old man
              • Eastern Romance
                • Romanian vechi old (of things)
              • Insular Romance
                • Sardinian begru
              • Western Romance
                • Old French viel
                  • French vieux old
                • Old Occitan vielh
                  • Occitan vièlh old
                  • Italian veglio old, old man
                  • Spanish viejo old, stale, old man
          • Latin veterānus old, veteran
            • Central Romance
              • Dalmatian vetrun old
            • Eastern Romance
              • Romanian bătrân old (of people)
            • French vétéran veteran
              • English veteran
            • Koine Greek βετεράνος beterános
              • Greek βετεράνος veterános veteran
            • Italian veterano veteran
            • Spanish veterano veteran
          • Latin veterāre to age, to make old
            • Latin inveterāre to age, to make old emphatic causative
              • Latin inveterātus made old, aged, preserved, long standing, rooted
                • English inveterate
          • Latin veterīnus related to draft animals possibly mixed with vehere
            • Latin veterīnārius related to treating domestic animals, veterinary, veterinarian
              • English veterinary
                • English veterinarian
                  • English vet
        • Etruscan 𐌅𐌄𐌕𐌖𐌔 vetus old
      • Phrygian ϝετει wetei in the year otuwoi wetei: "in the eighth year"
    • Proto-Indo-European *wetsós
      • Anatolian
        • Luwic
          • Cuneiform Luwian 𒈬𒅖 MU-iš 𒈬 MU Sumerogramic for "year"
          • Hieroglyphic Luwian 𔑺𔓉𔐤 u-si-na attested in accusative
      • Indo-Iranian *watsás yearling calf
        • Indo-Aryan *watsás
          • Sanskrit 𑀯𑀢𑁆𑀲 vatsá a calf, a child, an offspring
            • Magadhi
              • Assamese বাছা basa child (as an affectionate address)
            • Sauraseni 𑀯𑀘𑁆𑀙 vaccha
              • Madhya Sauraseni
                • Hindi बछड़ा bachṛā calf
              • Northwestern Sauraseni
                • Khowar بَۨچھوڑ bač̣hoóḷ a calf
            • Sanskrit vatsarūpa
              • Magadhi
                • Assamese বাছৰু basoru calf
        • Iranian *wacáh
          • Northern Iranian
            • Ossetian вӕс væs calf
          • Western Iranian
            • Old Persian
              • Middle Persian whyk' Capricorn, kid, buck
              • Persian بهی bahī Capricorn (archaic)
          • Finnic *vasa calf
            • Finnish vasa calf, fawn
            • Finnic *vasikka calf
              • Finnish vasikka calf
          • Mordvinic
            • Erzya ваз vaz
          • Iranian *wacyakah
            • Western Iranian
              • Northwestern Iranian
                • Kurdish gîsk kid (young goat)
                • Medean *wašakes personal name: Calf?
                  • Armenian Վասակ Vasak
                  • Classical Greek Οὐάσακης Ouásakēs
                  • Classical Greek Βασσάκης Bassákēs
                  • Latin Vasaces
              • Old Persian
                • Persian بچه bače child, native of, boy
                  • Hindi बच्चा baccā child, offspring
    • Proto-Indo-European *wetusos
      • Balto-Slavic *wétušas
        • East Baltic
          • Lithuanian vẽtušas old (archaic)
        • Slavic *vetъxъ old
          • East Slavic
            • Russian ве́тхий vétxij old, shabby, decrepit
            • Ukrainian ве́тхий vétxyj old, ancient
          • South Slavic
            • Bulgarian вехт veht worn out, wilted, faded, shabby
            • Old Church Slavonic ветъхъ vetŭxŭ old, withered, worn out
              • Russian ве́тошь vétošʹ rag
          • West Slavic
            • Czech vetchý decrepit
            • Polish wiotki flabby, limp
    • Proto-Indo-European *wetelos
      • Hellenic *wétalon
        • Classical Greek ἔταλον étalon a young animal, a yearling
      • Italic *wetelos
        • Latin vitulus a bull calf
          • Italian *vecchio calf
            • Italian vecchio marino seal (archaic) lit. "sea calf"
          • Latin vitula a heifer calf
            • Latin Vitula divinity of Joy and Victory
            • Latin vitula a kind of stringed instrument
              • Western Romance
                • Old French viele
                  • French vielle vielle, hurdy-gurdy
                    • English vielle
                • Occitan viula
                  • Italian viola viola, fiddle
                    • English viola
                    • Italian violino
                      • English violin
                        • Japanese バイオリン baiorin violin
              • Germanic *fiþulǭ fiddle, violin [1]
                • North Germanic
                  • Old Norse fiðla
                    • Icelandic fiðla violin, fiddle
                • West Germanic
                  • Old English *fiþele
                    • Middle English fithele
                      • English fiddle
                        • Swahili fidla fiddle, violin
                      • Irish fidil fiddle
                  • Frankish *fithela
                    • Dutch vedel vielle, violin
                  • Old High German fidula
                    • German Fiedel fiddle
                    • Yiddish פֿידל fidl violin, fiddle
          • Latin vitulinus of calf, from calf
            • Western Romance
              • French vélin vellum
                • English vellum [2]
          • Latin vitellus a small calf, yolk of an egg
            • Central Romance
              • Italian vitello calf, veal, calfskin
            • Eastern Romance
              • Romanian vițel calf, veal
            • Insular Romance
              • Sardinian biteddu
            • Western Romance
              • Old French veel
                • French veau
                • English veal
          • Latin vitella a heifer calf
            • Central Romance
              • Italian vitella a heifer calf
            • Western Romance
              • French velle a heifer calf
        • Oscan *vítelús
          • Oscan 𐌅𐌝𐌕𐌄𐌋𐌉𐌞 víteliú place name: (Land) of Young Cattle?
            • Classical Greek Ἰταλία Ītalíā Southern Italy, Italy
              • Greek Ιταλία Italía Italy
              • Coptic ϯϩⲩⲧⲁⲗⲓⲁ tihutalia Italy
              • Latin Ītalia Italy
                • Italian Italia Italy
                  • Arabic إيطاليا ʔīṭāliyā Italy
                • West Germanic *Etala?
                  • Old English Eotol Italy
                • Old English Italia Italy
                  • English Italy
                    • Mandarin 意大利 Yìdàlì Italy
                • Old Irish (In) Etáil Italy
                  • Irish An Iodáil Italy
                • Latin italicus Italian, Italic
                  • English Italic
                  • English italic
                • Late Latin italiānus
                  • Italian italiano
                  • English Italian
        • Umbrian vitlu
        • Etruscan 𐌉𐌃𐌅𐌋𐌅𐌔 itwlws
    • Proto-Indo-European *wétrus
      • Germanic *weþruz yearling lamb, wether
        • East Germanic
          • Gothic 𐍅𐌹𐌸𐍂𐌿𐍃 wiþrus (male? yearling?) lamb only attested in wiþrus gudis: "lamb of god"
        • North Germanic
          • Old Norse veðr ram
            • Danish vædder ram, Aries
            • Icelandic veður ram, battering ram
            • Old Norse Veðrafjǫrðr place name: Ram-Ford
              • English Waterford
        • West Germanic
          • Old English weþer castrated ram, wether
            • English wether
              • English bellwether
          • Frankish *wither
            • Dutch weer wether
          • Old High German widar ram
            • German Widder ram, Aries
            • Yiddish ווידער vider ram
        • Samic *vērttës
          • Samic *vierccë
            • Northern Sami vierca ram
    • Proto-Indo-European *wéttis
      • Celtic *wessis young female pig, sow
        • Brythonic
          • Breton gwiz sow
          • Middle Welsh gwys
        • Old Irish feis pig (archaic, poetic)
    • Proto-Indo-European *pér-uti last year, in the past year lit. "through year-LOC", i.e. "on the other side of a year"
      • Old Armenian հերու heru last year, in the past year
        • Armenian հերու heru in the past year
      • Balto-Slavic
        • East Baltic
          • Lithuanian pérnai last year
      • Celtic *ɸeruti last year
        • Old Irish (in) uraid (the) last year
          • Irish anuraidh last year
      • Germanic *ferudi last year, a year ago
        • North Germanic
          • Old Norse (í) fjǫrð last year, (in) the past year
            • Danish i fjor last year
            • Icelandic í fyrra last year
        • West Germanic
          • Old High German
            • German fert last year (archaic, dialectal)
      • Hellenic *péruti
        • Classical Greek πέρυσι pérusi a year ago, last year
      • Indo-Iranian *parut last year
        • Indo-Aryan
          • Sanskrit 𑀧𑀭𑀼𑀢𑁆 parut last year
        • Iranian
          • Northern Iranian
            • Wakhi پارد pard last year
          • Western Iranian
            • Northwestern Iranian
              • Kurdish par last year
            • Old Persian
              • Persian پار pār last year (dialectal)
  • Proto-Indo-European *wósr̥ spring (season)
    • Old Armenian *gehar
      • Old Armenian գարուն garun spring
        • Armenian գարուն garun spring
    • Balto-Slavic *waser spring
      • East Baltic
        • Lithuanian vãsara summer
      • Slavic *vesnà spring
        • East Slavic
          • Russian весна́ vesná spring
          • Ukrainian весна́ vesná spring
        • South Slavic
          • Serbo-Croatian ве̏сна vȅsna spring (archaic)
            • Serbo-Croatian Ве̏сна Vȅsna personal name: Spring; divinity of Spring
        • West Slavic
          • Czech vesna spring (archaic)
          • Polish wiosna spring
    • Celtic *wesr- spring
      • Celtic *wesrakos spring
        • Old Irish errach spring
          • Irish earrach spring
      • Celtic *wesantēnos
        • Brythonic *gwehantuɨn spring
          • Welsh gwanwyn spring
      • Celtic *wesnālā swallow (bird) arrival of migrating swallows are famously an early sign of approaching summer in Europe
        • Brythonic *gwennọl swallow
          • Welsh gwennol swallow, martin, shuttle
        • Gaulish *wannala
          • French vanneau lapwing (bird)
        • Old Irish fannall
          • Irish fáinleog swallow
    • Germanic *wazrą spring
      • North Germanic
        • Old Norse vár spring
          • Danish vår spring (archaic)
          • Icelandic vor spring
          • Scots voar spring
    • Hellenic *wéhər
      • Classical Greek ἔαρ éar spring, freshness
        • Greek έαρ éar spring (formal)
    • Indo-Iranian *wásr̥ spring
      • Indo-Aryan *wásr̥
        • Vedic Sanskrit vásar
      • Iranian *wáhr̥
        • Avestan *vaŋhar
          • Avestan 𐬬𐬀𐬢𐬭𐬌 vaŋri in spring locative
        • Bactrian οαυαρ oauar spring
        • Western Iranian
          • Northwestern Iranian
            • Kurdish bihar spring
          • Old Persian *vahār
            • Persian بهار bahâr spring, blossom
              • Hindi बहार bahār spring, blossom, prime
              • Ottoman Turkish بهار bahar blossom, greenery, spring
                • Turkish bahar spring, youth, blossom
            • Old Persian 𐎰𐎢𐎼𐎺𐎠𐏃𐎼 θ-u-r-v-a-h-r month name: Early Spring?, Feast of Spring?
      • Indo-Iranian *wasantás
        • Indo-Aryan *wasantás
          • Sanskrit 𑀯𑀲𑀦𑁆𑀢 vasantá spring
            • Magadhi
              • Bengali বসন্ত bôsôntô spring
            • Pali 𑀯𑀲𑀦𑁆𑀢 vasanta
              • Burmese ဝသန္တ wa.santa. spring, early summer
              • Thai วสันต์ wá-sǎn spring (formal)
            • Sauraseni
              • Madhya Sauraseni
                • Hindi बसंत basant spring
              • Northwestern Sauraseni
                • Kalasha básond spring
            • Telugu వసంతము vasantamu spring
    • Italic *wezor
      • Latin vēr spring
        • Vulgar Latin *vēra
          • Eastern Romance *vēra summer
            • Romanian vară summer
            • Albanian verë summer
              • Albanian pranverë spring
        • Latin vernus of spring, vernal
          • Central Romance
            • Italian verno of spring, vernal [3]
          • Latin vernālis of spring, vernal
            • English vernal
        • Latin prīma vēra early spring, first spring
          • Central Romance
            • Italian primavera spring, year, primrose
              • English primavera
          • Eastern Romance
            • Romanian primăvară spring
          • Western Romance
            • French primevère primrose
            • Spanish primavera spring, year, primrose, American robin
          • Albanian pranverë spring
        • Vulgar Latin *(tempus) veranum spring (time)
          • Insular Romance
            • Sardinian beranu spring
          • Western Romance
            • Spanish verano summer, spring (archaic)

Visual

Image is a visual representation of the text content above.

Collected English words

veteran, inveterate, veterinary, veterinarian, vet, vielle, viola, violin, fiddle, vellum, veal, Italy, Italic, italic, Italian, Waterford, wether, bellwether, vernal, primavera

Footnotes

  1. ^

    Latin "vitul(us/a" means a young cow, originally a one-year old cow. The Oscan equivalent (in the plural and/or genitive) 𐌅𐌝𐌕𐌄𐌋𐌉𐌞 víteliú is thought to be the origin of Greek Ἰταλία Ītalíā: "Italy"

    Latin vitula also means a kind of stringed instrument (and becomes viula in Occitan, whence viola and violin). This is clearly related to Germanic *fiþulǭ: "a stringed instrument" ("fiddle"), but it is unclear if vitula: "stringed instrument" is from vitula: "young cow" (compare the story of Hermes and the lyre) and Germanic borrowed it; or if the Germanic is of unknown origin and Latin borrowed it.

    vitula: "stringed instrument" is attested late enough that Latin could have borrowed it, and Germanic *þ is borrowed as Latin 't' is more common than the reverse; so on whole it is probably most likely that Late Latin borrowed the meaning on to the existing Latin word vitula: "a heifer calf" and/or Vitula: "divinity of Joy and Victory" (whose name may or may not be from vitula: "a heifer calf" and whose worshipped involved music).

  2. ^

    I always assumed vellum: "calf or lamb skin for writing" was related to vellus: "wool, the pelt or hide of an animal", but it is not. vellum looks like a direct Latin word, but is actually from French velin from Latin vitulinus: "of calf". Possibly some other Latin-knowing English speaker made the same assumption in the past and re-modeled velin to look like vellus.

  3. ^

    Hilariously, Latin vernum: "of spring, vernal" and Latin hībernum: "of winter" have both become verno in Italian.

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