Reconstruction:Proto-Brythonic/Gwɨnnohuɨβar

This Proto-Brythonic 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-Brythonic

Alternative forms

*Gwɨnnohuɨβ̃ar

Etymology

Unknown; possibly from *gwɨnn (“white”) +‎ *huɨβar, from Proto-Celtic *sēbaris (“spirit, demon”).[1] Perhaps cognate with Old Irish Finnabair.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈɡwɨnː.huɨ.βar/

Proper noun

*Gwɨnnohuɨβar f

a female given name

Descendants

Breton: Gwenivar
Middle Cornish: Gwynnever [ca. 1500]
- Cornish: Jennifer, Gweniver
- → English: Jennifer
Old Welsh: *Guinhuimar (< *Gwɨnnohuɨβ̃ar?)
- Middle Welsh: Gwenhwyfar
  - Welsh: Gwenhwyfar
- → Medieval Latin: Guennuvar, Guennimar [ca. 1130], Guanhumara [ca. 1136], Guennuuar [ca. 1150], Wennevereia [ca. 1220]
  - Old French: Genievre
    - Middle French: Genievre
      - French: Guenièvre
    - → Middle English: Guinevere
      - English: Guinevere
    - → Galician: Xenebra
    - → Italian: Ginevra
    - → Portuguese: Genebra
    - → Spanish: Ginebra

References

Matasović, Ranko (2009) Etymological Dictionary of Proto-Celtic (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 9), Leiden: Brill, →ISBN, pages *sēbro-–325

[1] Matasović, Ranko (2009) Etymological Dictionary of Proto-Celtic (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 9), Leiden: Brill, →ISBN, pages *sēbro-–325