Abstract
In the present article, I argue that the received etymological connection of Proto-Germanic *kraftu- 'power' with ON kræfr 'strong' is misleading, because the adjective 1) does not mean 'strong' and 2) must be analyzed as a direct derivation from ON krefja 'to demand'. Alternatively, we may connect *kraftu- with *krēpja-, a formation that I reconstruct on the basis of the Visperterminen Swiss form xreepfe 'strong'. This adjective was possibly borrowed into Slavic, so as to emerge as Old Church Slavonic krěpb 'strong'.
| Originalsprog | Engelsk |
|---|---|
| Tidsskrift | Journal of Indo-European Studies |
| Vol/bind | 38 |
| Udgave nummer | 3 & 4 |
| Sider (fra-til) | 402-408 |
| Antal sider | 7 |
| ISSN | 0092-2323 |
| Status | Udgivet - sep. 2010 |