Cognate Set 678 – Meaning: good

IE-CoR reference form:
labs
IE-CoR reference language:
(Baltic)
Ideophonic:
no
Parallel derivation:
no
Justification:
Extra-Baltic connections uncertain, possibly to PIE *labʰ- if the root is to be reconstructed as such (cf. ALEW s.v. Lith. lãbas, LIV² 411-412 s.v. *lembʰ- n1), but such a reconstruction is uncertain, unusually requiring *-a- in the ablaut series. Likewise, the proposed cognates in Greek ἀμφι-λαφής, etc. can be more easily accounted by a zero-grade formation *lm̥bʰ-. Hübschmann 1897:451 speculatively considered a connection with Armenian law (cf. discussion in cognate set 8081), but this etymology is not certain and is not even mentioned by Fraenkel 1962–1965 or ALEW. A lemma for Lithuanian lãbas is lacking in Derksen 2015. Apart from the as yet uncertain proposal to Vedic rabh- 'seize, grasp', the Baltic lexemes appear to be etymologically isolated.
Found in clades:
Baltic
Revised by:
Matthew Scarborough
Found in 1 clade by 3 lexemes.
Language Lexeme Native script Phonetic Phonemic Notes
74   Latvian labs lɑps labs
77   Old Prussian labs also labbīngs
75   Latgalian lobs lɔps lɔbs
References
  • Fraenkel, Ernst: 327
    S.v. Lith. lãbas 'gut', connected with Ved. rabh- 'angreifen'.
  • Hock, Wolfgang and Fecht, Rainer and Feulner, Anna Helene and Hill, Eugen and Wodtko, Dagmar S.: 547-548
    S.v. OLith. lãbas 'gut' (BSl. Latv. labs 'gut, vollkommen', OPr. labs 'gut, tüchtig', etc.). The common Baltic word for 'good'. Slavic connections are lacking. The proposed connection to Vedic rabh-, rábhate 'to seize, to grasp' / labh-, lábhate 'to get' and Greek ἀμφιλαφής 'comprehensive', λαφύρα 'haul, spoils' is only possible if the root form is *labʰ- (cf. LIV² 412n1 s.v. *lembʰ- 'ergreifen, fassen').
  • Rix, Helmut: 411-412
    Cf. s.v. *lembʰ- 'ergreifen, fassen' (IEW 652). Cf. n1: An alternative reconstruction for the root is *labʰ-, but in which case the Vedic forms exhibiting a nasal in the root would have to be a secondary innovation. [Baltic forms not connected in this entry.]
  • Scarborough, Matthew:
    Extra-Baltic connections uncertain, possibly to PIE *labʰ- if the root is to be reconstructed as such (cf. [ALEW](src-352) s.v. Lith. lãbas, [LIV²](src-141) 411-412 s.v. *lembʰ- n1), but such a reconstruction is uncertain, unusually requiring *-a- in the ablaut series. Likewise, the proposed cognates in Greek ἀμφι-λαφής, etc. can be more easily accounted by a zero-grade formation *lm̥bʰ-. [Hübschmann 1897](src-564):451 speculatively considered a connection with Arm. law (cf. discussion in [cognate set 8081](cog-8081)), but this etymology is not certain and is not even mentioned by [Fraenkel 1962–1965](src-360) or [ALEW](src-352). A lemma for Lith. lãbas is lacking in [Derksen 2015](src-353). Besides the still uncertain proposal to Ved. rabh- 'seize, grasp', the Baltic lexemes appear to be etymologically isolated.