E 0083          BEAT

The word " beat " is of Germanic origin .

H 0415            ט ב ח

Concept of root : to beat

Hebrew word

pronunciation

English meanings

ט ב ח

ghavath

to beat

Related English words

to beat

Comparison between European words and Hebrew

Languages

Words

Pronunciation

English meanings

Similarity in roots

Hebrew

ט ב ח

ghavath

to beat

gh . b . th

< *b . th

Latin

batt(u)ere

batt(u)ere

to beat

b . t

Russian

бить

бивать ; бицить

bitj, biwatj; batsatj

to beat, strike

b . t ; b . ts

Old English

beatan

to beat

b . t

English

to beat

to beat

b . t

 

 

Proto-Semitic *GHA-BATH < *BATH- --- *-BAT- Indo-European

 

 

The supposition at the basis of this similarity is that the Hebrew root with three consonants has a meaning that is already carried by the last two, "B TH". Consequently that the first consonant, "GH" has been added later. Some indications exist :

 

Latin "battuere" is considered related to English "rebut" that has a prefix "re-". In Hebrew "rebut" can be expressed by the verb " ב ע ט , ba‛ ath". ב ת ק , bittèq says "to massacre" ", though also " to pierce, cut off". And " ע ו ט, ‛awath or "‛oth" is "to pounce upon". Then we find a strong confirmation ש ב ט , sheweth" for a stick, which is about the most common instrument for "beating and the verb "ש ב ט , shawath " , that indeed means " to strike, smite". We refer to Entry E 0083A (Hebrew 0891A, PAGE IN PREPARATION).

 

Obviously the combination "*B (vowel) TH" has had the meaning of " to beat". A common origin with Indo-European is possible. Finally there is the word " "ש ו ט , shoth" , probably related to "shawath", standing for another instrument of beating, a whip.

 

The fact that in our view the initial GH is not part of the more original root for "to beat", means that the roots "GH.B.S. = to press, crush" and "GH.B.TS = to compress, churn" are not related to it. In fact their messages are very different from "to beat".

 

 

Note:
  • Proto-Semitic. This root is found in Aramaic and Syriac "ח ב ט , ghavath = to beat, strike". Arabic has ghabatha = to strike, beat". Then there is a cognate in Ethiopian "ghaphatà" with the same meaning. This root probably was already used in Proto-Semitic: "*ח ב ט, GH B TH".

     

    It is not probable that the change in pronunciation of the consonant " B " into " V ", as seen in Hebrew and Aramaic, has begun in Proto-Semitic.

 

Note:
  • Latin. No etymology has been found for this Latin word, " battuere ". We see this happen more often when there is a possible kinship with a Semitic root. Or perhaps just because the possibility of such a kinship has not been taken into consideration, notwithstanding the conviction that there has been a common ancestor in Nostratic.

 

Note:
  • English "to beat" comes from Old English "bēatan".and from Germanic "*bautan " . It has not been derived from Latin, neither from French " battre " .

 

Note:
  • Proto-Germanic. Older languages show, besides Old English "bēatan" and "batt = bat" the instrument one uses to beat a ball or other object in certain games. Old Norse has "bauta" and Old High German "bözzan". Middle Dutch has "boten, but also "bat = bat". Proto-Germanic probably had "*B A T-".

 

Note:
  • Russian is considerably different, but probably of the same origin. "Bitj" seems to be an abbreviated form of "Biwatj", but both lack the final T of English "to beat", unless the root has to be considered as amalgamated with the suffix "itj" which is in Russian that of the infinite form of verbs. A original form "B A T-" seems indicated. Some doubt if the vowel is caused by the use of the vowel " I ", also in the word "б и т в а, bitwa = battle".

 

Note:
  • Indo-European.

     

    Latin "battuo" has also a sister "batuo". There is also "batt(u)alia = fight", also as an exercise". The later form of the verb has become "batto, battere". The resulting indication is an original "B A T-".

     

    Greek "pateo = to walk, march, proceed" also used to say "to step on, tread on", on account of that last derived meaning is often considered related to Latin "battuere", but the absolute difference in basic meaning between the considered actions of hand and feet makes this very doubtful. Therefore it cannot be used for the defining of an Indo-European root meaning "to beat"

     

     

    Celtic. Cymric "bathu = to beat, hit". Breton "baz = stick". Old- and Middle Irish have "bad-, bod- = battle-" in composed words. A battle goddess in the guise of a crow is called "bodb". Probably the form with a vowel A is the original one : " B A D/T-". Some doubt remains about the vowel, seen the mentioned use of "O" and the Gaelic word bith = blow".

     

    Indo-European may well have known the form "*B A T-".

 

 

 

 

 
"...the town, to which was given the name Babel, because it was there that the Lord confused the language of all the world on the face of which He dispersed them. GENESIS 11,9"
 
Created: Tuesday 6 November 2007 at 22.30.54 Updated: Monday 16 September 2013 at 14.20.40