Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/maiz

This Proto-Germanic entry contains reconstructed words 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-Germanic

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /mɑi̯z/

Adverb

*maiz (adjective *maizô, superlative *maist)

more, to a greater degree

Usage notes

This word is not directly the comparative of any other term. Instead, various adverbial formations are used to express the positive degree.

Derived terms

Final *-z was regularly lost in monosyllables in the northern West Germanic languages, so that forms without final -r are found in these languages. However, it was generally restored later by analogy with the adjective *maizô, which had retained it.

Old English: mā, mǣ
- Middle English: ma, mo
  - English: mo, moe
  - Scots: ma, mae
Old Frisian: mā, mē, mār, mēr
- North Frisian: mor
- Saterland Frisian: moor
- Old Frisian: mear
Old Saxon: mēr
- Middle Low German: mêr
  - German Low German: mehr
Old Dutch: *mē, mēr
- Middle Dutch: mee, meer
  - Dutch: meer
Old High German: mē, mēr
- Middle High German: mē, mēr
  - German: mehr (< mēr)
  - Luxembourgish: méi (< mē)
  - Central Franconian: mieh (< mē)
Old Norse: meir
- Icelandic: meir
- Faroese: meir
- Norwegian: mer
- Old Swedish: mēr
  - Swedish: mer
- Danish: mer
Gothic: 𐌼𐌰𐌹𐍃 (mais)