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E 0977 W A R
The word " war " is of
Germanic origin .
H 0375 ה ר ג
Concept of root : fight,
conflict
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Hebrew word
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pronunciation
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English meanings
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ה ר ג
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garà
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to
provoke, incite, challenge, fight
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Related English words
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war
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Comparison between European words and
Hebrew
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Languages
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Words
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Pronunciation
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English meanings
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Similarity in roots
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Hebrew
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ה ר ג
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garà
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to provoke, incite, challenge,
fight
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g . r .
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Old High German
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werra
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werra
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fight, war
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w . r
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Late Latin
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verra
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verra
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war
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w . r
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Italian
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guerra; gara
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guerra;
gara
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war;
contest, match
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g . r
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English
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war
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war
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w . r
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Middle Dutch
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were; warren
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were;
warren
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fight, war; to contest,
fight,
make war
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w . r
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Proto-Semitic *GARÀ --- *WĒR- Proto-Germanic
This entry is to be seen in relation and compared with number E 0978 (Hebrew 1061) , that shows how more than one linguistic development can take place in the same field, in this case that of "conflict" with some differences in approach. The Hebrew root is nearer the idea of "getting into conflict, and war, also seeking it", whereas the Gemanic one is nearer to that of "getting into conflict, and war, defending oneself".
When one sees a Germanic W at the beginning of a root, often one may find a G in Latin languages. But one also finds frequently an Y in Hebrew. Such a Y comes from an older W. In this case though we see also in Hebrew that G that is so normal to find in other Mediterranean tongues.
The meaning of involvement in the conflict and in fact of "seeking conflict oneself" in this Hebrew verb is expressed in the reflexive form "ה ת ג ר ה, hitgarà = he challenged".
Note:
- Modern Hebrew has shifted the message of this root from anger and fight into excitement , irritation and challenge.
Note:
- Proto-Semitic. We find this root in Aramaic " ג ר א , ג ר י, ger'à, gar'é , to provoke, stir up". Akkadian "garū says "to challenge". This root was probably used in Proto-Semitic. "*ג ר ה , G R H (accentuated vowel)".
Note:
- Late Latin "verra" is a loan word from Germanic. This does not explain why the neo-Latin languages, that use many words beginning with V, have turned to that same G we find in Hebrew. Latin G often corresponds to Germanic W, but that is far from a fixed rule.
Note:
- Proto-Germanic. Some believe that English "war" and its Germanic sisters are related to words saying "confusion, entanglement", this in line with the French word "melée" and Italian "mischia" that are also used in the sense of "scrimmage, fight" though from roots that say "to mix". But in reality the basic concept is that of conflict, justified as "defense" in a very modern way.
In older Germanic languages there are verbs as Old Saxon, Old High German and Old English "werian". Gothic had "*"warjan", Old Frisian "wera" and Old Norse "verja". Nouns, related to English "war" are Old English werre", Old High German "werra", Old Norse "verja". This gives a very clear picture.
Proto-Germanic probably had W Ē R-".
Note:
- Indo-European. We lack information about possible cognates in other Indo-European groups of languages and must present the comparison with Germanic.
Note:
- Italian "gara" for "contest, competition, match" is considered as of the same root. It certainly talks about more peaceful contests than war, though sometimes in sports some violence is seen as well. But then this root is sometimes linked to another one, that we also find in English "guard". The "gara" or match would then have its name, and so would "war" from a root indicating "to observe with attention", as one should do with an adversary. We find this a bit a forceful explanation and prefer to stick to what the similarity with Hebrew teaches us in this entry.
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| Created: Tuesday 6 November 2007 at 22.30.54 Updated: 20/10/2012 at 18.30.12 |
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