Skip to content

Early Hick Lexicon — alphabetical (page 3 of 6)

hahu /ha.hu/: laugh, laughter (noun) — Preserves original meaning through irregular sound change [Sound Terms, Emotion Terms, Body Terms]; Proto-Hick *hahu; Shows irregular sound change preserving original 'laugh' meaning while regular form *halu developed into 'good' (via hi-halu > 'il)

harabran /ha.ra.bran/: conflict, grievance (especially between families/clans) (noun) [Social Terms, Conflict Terms]; Shows cultural conceptualization of conflict as family/clan division

haran /ha.ran/: split, separate (noun) [Action Terms]; divide (numbers) (noun) [Number System]; Proto-Hick *haranu

hilis /hi.lis/: sight, active vision (noun) [Perception Terms, Action Terms, Basic Terms]; sight, active vision (noun) [Perception Terms, Basic Terms]; Proto-Hick *hilisu; Forms two contrasting verbs: hilis'er (active looking) vs his'er (passive seeing)

his /his/: sight (animate/conscious perception) (noun, verb) [Perception, Sacred, Abstract Concepts]; to see (passive/unintentional perception) (noun, verb) [Perception Terms, Basic Terms]; Proto-Hick *hi-lisu

hisimris /hi.sim.ris/: show (verb) — Contrasts with hilis'er 'to look' [Perception Terms, Action Terms]; Shows productive use of ellative case for causative meanings

im /im/: evil, abstract negativity (noun) — Used for abstract concepts of evil/negativity [Sacred, Negation, Abstract Concepts]; Proto-Hick *ʔimru

im'ir /im.ʔir/: ill intent, malice (noun) [Sacred Terms, Abstract Concepts]; Shows metaphorical extension of negative prefix with action root

im'irok /im.ʔi.rok/: enemy, adversary (noun) [Person Terms, Sacred Terms]; Shows productive use of agentive suffix with abstract concepts

imasam /i.ma.sam/: to cower, hide from fear (verb) [Motion Terms, Position Terms, Emotional Terms]; Shows metaphorical extension of 'resting under' to fearful hiding

imasamok /i.ma.sa.mok/: coward (noun) [Person Terms, Character Terms]; Shows productive use of agentive suffix with compound base

imbel /im.bel/: bad language, swear words (noun) [Speech Terms, Body Terms, Taboo Terms]

imbris /im.bris/: fever, harmful heat (noun) [Medical Terms, Body States, Illness Terms]; Shows productive use of im- prefix for negative conditions

imer /i.mer/: breath, soul (noun) [Sacred Terms, Spirit Terms]; Proto-Hick *imeru; Basic term for breath/soul

imeresp /i.me.resp/: sleep (noun) — Shows metaphorical extension of breath/spirit sinking [Spirit Terms, Body Terms]

imerimris /i.me.rim.ris/: expression (noun) [Spirit Terms, Communication Terms]; Shows productive use of ellative case for outward expression

imerlas /i.mer.las/: inspiration (noun) [Spirit Terms, Mental Terms]; Shows productive use of illative case for inward inspiration

imibris /im.i.bris/: rage, anger; wrath (noun) [Emotion Terms, Sacred Terms]; Shows negative metaphorical extension of burning sensation

imlis /im.lis/: fear, dread (noun) [Emotional Terms, Mental Terms]; Shows semantic development from 'seeing evil' to general fear

imlis'er /im.li.sʔer/: to flee, run from fear (verb) — Contrasts with trask'er 'run (neutral)' [Motion Terms, Emotional Terms]; Shows natural development from fear to flight response

imlisitar /im.li.si.tar/: to flinch, startle (verb) [Motion Terms, Body Actions, Emotional Terms]; Uses superlative case to indicate sudden upward movement

imlisrur /im.lis.rur/: anxiety, constant fear (noun) [Emotional Terms, Mental Terms]; Shows extension of iterative aspect to ongoing mental state

impal /im.pal/: weakness, frailty (noun) [Body Parts, Basic Terms]; Source of adjective kaimpal "weak". Shows metaphorical extension of belly/gut health to general strength

imthral /im.θral/: evil deity (noun) [Sacred Terms, Religious Terms]; Compound fusion, maintains second element due to sacred term

imtir /im.tir/: rot, decay (noun) [Process Terms, Food Terms]; Shows metaphorical extension of fermentation process to negative outcome

imtirdu /im.tir.du/: rotting meat (noun) [Food Terms, Death Terms]; cadaver (noun) [Body Terms, Death Terms]; Shows semantic extension from rotting meat to cadaver. Contrasts with du for fresh meat

imtirduok /im.tir.du.ok/: scavenger (noun) — Applies to both animals and birds [Animal Terms, Basic Terms]; Shows formation pattern of "carrion-eater" common across languages

imtirlis /im.tir.lis/: mushroom (noun) [Flora, Food Terms]; Shows cultural understanding of mushrooms as fruits of decay

imur /i.mur/: evil, negative force (noun) [Sacred, Negation]; Proto-Hick *imuru

imurai /i.mu.rai/: stinky (adjective) [Sensory Terms]; Proto-Hick *imur-ai

imurkulok /i.mur.ku.lok/: necromancer (noun) — Literally 'evil magic worker' [Magical Terms, Sacred Terms]

imurmal /i.mur.mal/: evil pool, cursed waters; swamp (noun) [Water Features, Sacred Terms]; Shows compound formation with negative prefix

imurthral /i.mur.θral/: cursed day/time (noun) [Time Terms, Sacred Terms]; Compound fusion, maintains second element due to sacred term

imurtor /i.mur.tor/: evil peak, forbidden mountain (noun) [Landforms, Sacred Terms]; Shows compound formation with negative prefix

imurud /i.mu.rud/: falsehood (noun) [Sacred Terms, Abstract Concepts]; Shows semantic extension from physical to abstract meaning

imurwad /i.mur.wad/: evil path, dangerous route (noun) [Path Terms, Sacred Terms]; Shows compound formation with negative prefix

imwes /im.wes/: invade, encroach upon (verb) [Action Terms, Conflict Terms]; Shows productive use of im- prefix for harmful actions

ir /ir/: iron (noun) [Metals, Material Culture]; Proto-Hick *xiru; Basic term for iron, shows early mining culture

iskel /is.kel/: window (noun) [Architecture, Basic Terms]; Basic architectural term

iskelai /is.ke.lai/: window condensation (noun) [Architecture, Weather Terms]; Shows compound formation with water term

istor /is.tor/: growth (living) (noun) [Sacred Terms]; Proto-Hick *hi-storu; With animate prefix hi-

ithiril /i.θi.ril/: Dark Elf (noun) [Person Terms, Borrowed Terms]; Borrowed term for Dark Elves

kabran /ka.bran/: crooked, leaning (adjective) — Forms common expression kabran 'irek'er 'to lean' (lit. 'stand crookedly') [Position Terms, Basic Terms]; From metaphorical extension of branch growth patterns

kabrast /ka.brast/: skilled with hands, manually dexterous (adjective) — Specifically for craft skills requiring hand coordination; does not extend to martial or athletic dexterity [Body Parts]; Shows metaphorical extension to manual craft skills

kaduwes /ka.du.wes/: edible (adjective) — Shows productive use of ka- prefix for potential/capability [Food & Consumption Terms]

kagar /ka.gar/: hard (adjective) [Tactile Properties, Basic Terms]

kagral /ka.gral/: earthy, brown (adjective) [Colors, Basic Terms]

kaimpal /ka.im.pal/: weak, feeble (adjective) [Physical States, Basic Terms]; Shows metaphorical extension of belly/gut health to general strength

kaken /ka.ken/: snowy, snow-covered (adjective) [Weather Terms, Basic Terms]; Shows typical adjectival reduplication pattern

kaketh /ka.keθ/: salty (adjective) — Literally 'sea-like', shows maritime influence on taste terminology [Taste Terms, Maritime Terms]

kakethmal /ka.keθ.mal/: brine pool (noun) [Water Features, Natural World]

kames /ka.mes/: emotional (adjective) [Emotional Terms, Basic Terms]

kan /kan/: head (noun) [Body Parts]; Proto-Hick *kanu

kandup /kan.dup/: head lump, bump on head (noun) [Body Terms, Medical Terms, Injury Terms]

kanmil /kan.mil/: brain (noun) [Body Parts]

kapal /ka.pal/: strong, vigorous (adjective) — Contrasts with kaimpal 'weak'. Forms compounds like kapaltak 'strong-strike' [Physical States, Basic Terms]; Shows metaphorical extension of belly/gut health to general strength

kar /kar/: nose (noun) [Body Parts]; Proto-Hick *karu

kasai /kas.əi/: introspection, self-reflection (noun) [Mental Terms, Sacred Terms]; From ancient practice of water-gazing meditation. Shows metaphorical extension from physical reflection to mental contemplation

kasak /ka.sak/: wolf-like howl (noun) [Sound Terms, Animal Terms]

kasgasam /kas.ga.sam/: polishing, lapping (noun) [Tool Terms, Craft Terms]; Refers to the final lapping stage to achieve a reflective surface

kasger /kas.ger/: mirror (especially polished stone mirror) (noun) [Tool Terms, Stone Terms]; Shows technological origin in polished stone mirrors

kasul /ka.sul/: energetic (adjective) [Physical States, Basic Terms]

kathrakel /ka.θra.kel/: bright, shining (adjective) [Light Terms, Sacred Terms]

kator /ka.tor/: massive, heavy (adjective) [Size Terms, Basic Terms]

kawak /ka.wak/: soft (adjective) — Shows cultural association between softness and nurturing [Tactile Properties, Body Terms]

kel /kel/: sky (noun) — Often used in compounds referring to celestial phenomena [Celestial Terms, Natural World]; blue (noun) — Derived from association with sky color [Colors]; leaf (noun) — Productive in botanical compounds [Flora, Plant Terms]; Proto-Hick *kelu; Shows semantic extension from 'leaf' to 'sky', possibly through metaphor of canopy

kelwud /kel.wud/: orchard (noun) [Garden Terms, Flora]; Shows productive use of kel 'leaf' in botanical compounds

ken /ken/: snow (noun) [Weather Terms, Basic Terms]; Proto-Hick *kenu

keth /keθ/: hundred (numeral) [Number System]; Proto-Hick *kethu

kethbran /keθ.bran/: kin, extended family (noun) [Kinship Terms, Social Terms]

kethmater /keθ.ma.ter/: sea vessel (noun) [Maritime Terms, Vehicle Terms]

kethul /ke.θul/: east (noun) — Derived from term for east wind [Directional Terms, Maritime Terms]; Shows maritime influence on eastern regions

kethulbres /ke.θul.bres/: east wind (noun) — Common in eastern coastal regions [Weather Terms, Directional Terms, Maritime Terms]

ketnes /ket.nes/: sea fish (noun) [Maritime Terms, Animal Terms]

kir /kir/: chest, body (noun) [Body Parts]; Proto-Hick *kiru

kir'irur /kir.ʔi.rur/: ribcage (noun) — Shows parallel metaphorical extension with 'irurlis 'gourd/container' [Body Parts]

kirgar /kir.gər/: rib (noun) — Plural makirgar refers to full set of ribs [Body Parts]

kiris /ki.ris/: outsider (noun) [Person Terms, Social Terms]; Proto-Hick *kiru-ʔisu; Shows archaic directional suffix

kiriter /ki.ri.ter/: foreigner, stranger (noun) [Person Terms, Social Terms]; Borrowed from inland dialects with productive ellative suffix -iter (vs coastal -imris)

kirmel /kir.mel/: chest fat (noun) [Body Parts, Food Terms]