Reconstruction:Proto-Slavic/-ьlъ

This Proto-Slavic 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-Slavic

Etymology

Fossilized doublet of *-lъ, attached to thematic roots. The *-ь- could reflect either a reduced *-e- or *-i- from i-theme declension. Regionally (especially in East Slavic), the -ь- was often hardened to -ъ- due to the backward influence of -l- (cf. Old East Slavic: молоко (moloko) < *melko or Old East Slavic: пълнъ (pŭlnŭ) < *pьlnъ).

Suffix

*-ьlъ m

From adjectives or participles, forms agent nouns (usually animals or plants)
Synonyms: *-teľь, *-ařь, *-ačь
*kozьlъ (“goat”) ← *kozь(jь) (“goaty”)
*pětьlъ (“rooster, cock”) ← *pětъ(jь) (“singing”)
*sъsьlъ (“ground squirrel”) ← Proto-Balto-Slavic *śuśas (“shoving, ditching”) (possibly)
*orьlъ (“eagle”) ← Proto-Indo-European *h₃érō (“stirring, rising one”)
*pelvelъ (“weed”) ← *pelvъ (“pale, futile”)
From basic roots or verbs, forms tool nouns. Likely under the influence of Proto-Germanic *-ilaz
Synonym: *-dlo
*svьrdьlъ (“chasel”) ← Proto-Indo-European *swerdʰóm (“sharp tool”) < *seh₂w- (“sharp”) +‎ *-ér-
*kotьlъ (“cauldron”) ← Proto-Indo-European *kat- (“to encircle, to bound”)
*kъbьlъ (“bucket”) ← Proto-Indo-European *kewb- (“to bend, to turn”)
*gъdьlъ (“tickle”) ← *gъsti (“to tickle, to prick”)

Alternative forms

*-ъlъ
*-elъ

Declension

Declension of *-ьlъ (hard o-stem)

	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	*-ьlъ	*-ьla	*-ьli
Accusative	*-ьlъ	*-ьla	*-ьly
Genitive	*-ьla	*-ьlu	*-ьlъ
Locative	*-ьlě	*-ьlu	*-ьlěxъ
Dative	*-ьlu	*-ьloma	*-ьlomъ
Instrumental	-ьlъmь, -ьlomь^*	*-ьloma	*-ьly
Vocative	*-ьle	*-ьla	*-ьli

^* -ъmь in North Slavic, -omь in South Slavic.

Derived terms

Proto-Slavic terms suffixed with *-ьlъ