Page:Studies in Lowland Scots - Colville - 1909.djvu/279

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FARTHER AFIELD
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ragan, L. rex, Ir. riogh, ri, Go. reiks (ruler), Ger. Reich. Village-commune.—Sabhâ (community), Sl. sebru, Go. sibja and Ger. Sippe (affinity), Sc. sib, O.E. sibbe (peace, affinity), E. gos-sip. Kin=R. ganbegotten.—S. ganas, γένος, L. genus, Go. kuni (race, tribe), E. kind-red.

Season-words yield a further hint of a northern Continental home, with a more or less humid climate in which the welcome change from the long ungenial winter was as the burst of sunshine through the cold and mist of a gloomy night, and the dawn of gladsome spring was merged in a too short summer day. Time was measured by the moon, of little service otherwise in that wolf-haunted forest-land, and therefore playing but a small part in primitive mythology. Day is the reign of divine, life-giving light, as night is the waning of Nature's powers in a death-like gloom. The terms for civil life show that a more than rudimentary conception of social polity existed. The basis of union is kinship by blood, and the ruler is the father of related families, the guardian that defended the tribe on its threshold (the encircling mark), or even the one most distinguished by personal merit chosen to a still wider sway.

13. Mind.

Thinking.—R. ma-, measure, S. manas, μένος, L. mens, Sl. mineti, C. menme, Go. mun-s. Wit=seeing clearly, S. vid, οἶδα, L. videre, Sl. vedeti, Go, wit-an, Ger. wiss-en (to know). Knowing, R. make to know, teach, S. gânâmi (I know), γνῶσις, L. g-nosco, Sl. znati, Go. kannjan (make known), Sc. ken. Willing=choose, S. vri. (choose), vára (wish, excellent); L. volo, S. voliti, Go. wiljan—will, well. Awe, R. agh-, choke, S. amha (angha, constraint, pain), ἄχος, Ir. eaghal, Go. agis—awe, ugly, ug-some.

14. Myth.

Sun=light-giver, S. sûra, svar (sky), σείριος=Sirius, L. ser-enus=σελήνη (svarânâ), C. sail, Lit. saul, Go. sauil. Staro=strewn or light-strewers,—Ved. star-as, ἀστήρ, L. stella (ster-ula), C. steren, Go, stairno, star. Wind and Weather,—R. —, blow, vâta, L. ventus, Lit. vetra, Go. waian, A.S. weder,—weather: R. an—, breathe, S. anila, ἄνεμος, animus, Sc. end (breath).