< Reconstruction:Proto-Italic
Reconstruction:Proto-Italic/serwos
 | This Proto-Italic 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-Italic
Etymology
Apparently from Proto-Indo-European *ser- + *-wos, but the exact sense of the root *ser- from which *serwos derives is uncertain. Either:
- “to bind”, in the sense “one who is bound (in duty/labor)”, or originally denoting a physical binding;
- “to guard”, thus perhaps originally meaning one whose job it is to protect;
- “to plunder”, based on the assumption that the Latin sense of “slave” is original and those taken captive in war were converted to servants.
See *ser- for the various senses.
Pronunciation
IPA(key): /ˈser.wos/
Noun
*serwos m
- guardian? (meaning uncertain)
Declension
| o-stemDeclension of *serwos (o-stem) | ||
|---|---|---|
| case | singular | plural |
| nominative | *serwos | *serwōs, serwoi |
| vocative | *serwe | *serwōs, serwoi |
| accusative | *serwom | *serwons |
| genitive | *serwosjo, serwī | *serwom |
| dative | *serwōi | *serwois |
| ablative | *serwōd | *serwois |
| locative | *serwei | *serwois |
Descendants
- Latin: servus (see there for further descendants)