u̯īs-
From Lexicon Leponticum
| Type: | lexical |
|---|---|
| Meaning: | 'worthy, noble' |
| Language: | Celtic |
| Phonemic analysis: | /u̯īs/- |
| From PIE: | *h₁u̯ēsu- 'good' (?) |
| From Proto-Celtic: | *u̯īsu- 'good' (?) |
| Attestation: | uisa |
Commentary
Personal name element of uncertain status; see NIL: 253–258 with n. 3, 11, 16, 18 for discussion and literature. Schmidt KGP: 294 groups *u̯īsu- with u̯esu- and derives it from a lengthened-grade form of the root (uisurix 'ruler of the good (ones)', cf. Stüber 2005: 65, 68). However, Gaul. uisu- in names like uisurix, uisumarus could also be u̯iss- or – in the case of uisurix from near Basel – represent the Germanic cognate of u̯es- (Schrijver 1995: 386). A lengthened-grade variant of PIE *h₁u̯esu- has been reconstructed for the Insular Celtic lexemes (OIr. fíu, W. gwiw etc. 'worthy'), but is not necessary; the only possible non-Celtic evidence comes from Phrygian PNN.
