Reconstruction:Proto-Brythonic/Düβnėnt

This Proto-Brythonic 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-Brythonic

Etymology

From an earlier *Dub(no)nantī, a compound equivalent to *duβn ("deep") +‎ *nant ("valley"). The i-affection may originate from a plural or genitive case ending.

Although sometimes held to be directly from Proto-Celtic *Dubnonī (whence Latin Dumnōniī),[1] this cannot fully explain the final *-t.

Proper noun

*Düβnėnt

Devon, the main territory of the historic Dumnonian kingdom and a later county of England.

Descendants

Middle Breton:
- Breton: Devnent
Middle Cornish: Dewnans
- Cornish: Dewnans, Dewnens
Middle Welsh: Dyfneint
- Welsh: Dyfnaint
→? Old English: Defena (or from a reflex of *Dubnonī?)
- Middle English: Devene
  - English: Devon
- ⇒ Old English: Defenascir
  - Middle English: Devenescire
    - English: Devonshire

References

Probert, Duncan (2007) “Mapping early medieval language change in south-west England”, in Britons in Anglo-Saxon England, page 240

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[1] Probert, Duncan (2007) “Mapping early medieval language change in south-west England”, in Britons in Anglo-Saxon England, page 240