*anguz
Runic: ᚨᚾᚷᚢᛉ Pronunciation: /ˈɑŋ.ɡuz/adjective · u-stem
Meanings
narrow, tight
Etymology
From the Proto-Indo-European Caland-system u-stem adjective *h₂énǵʰ-u-s ~ *h₂n̥ǵʰ-éw-s, from the root *h₂enǵʰ-, probably reflecting earlier *h₂emǵʰ-; Hittite 𒄩𒈠𒀭𒆠 (ḫa-ma-an-ki /ḫamank-/) preserves the original *-m- before the dorsal (Bernard 2025: 93–95; Kroonen 2013: s.v. *angwu-; Ringe 2017: 111; Rix et al. 2001: 264–65; Wodtko et al. 2008: 301–303). The old proterokinetic inflection *h₂énǵʰ-u-s ~ *h₂n̥ǵʰ-éw-s also accounts for the alternating Proto-Germanic stem *angu- ~ *angw-, seen in *anguz vs. *angwāną. Gothic 𐌰𐌲𐌲𐍅𐌿𐍃 (aggwus) generalized the labiovelarized stem into the masculine (Ringe 2017: 111). Direct or closely corresponding Indo-European formations include Vedic Sanskrit अंहु (aṃhú), Proto-Celtic angus, reflected in Old Irish ing, iung, and Proto-Slavic ǫzъkъ; Latin angustus is instead a related derivative in *-os-to- from the same root (de Vaan 2008: 42, s.v. angō, -ere; Wodtko et al. 2008: 301). The verbal meaning remains particularly transparent in Ancient Greek ἄγχω (ánkhō) and Latin angō, while the widespread development ‘constriction’ → ‘distress, anxiety’ explains related formations such as *angustiz (Bernard 2025: 94–95; Watkins 2011: s.v. angh-).
Declension
Strong declension
| Case | Sg. Masc. | Sg. Fem. | Sg. Neut. | Pl. Masc. | Pl. Fem. | Pl. Neut. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nom. | anguz | angwī | angų, -jatō | angwijai | angwijôz | angwijō |
| Acc. | angwijanǭ | angwijǭ | angų, -jatō | angwijanz | angwijōz | angwijō |
| Gen. | angwijas, angwīs | angwijaizōz | angwijas, angwīs | angwijaizǫ̂ | angwijaizǫ̂ | angwijaizǫ̂ |
| Dat. | angwijammai | angwijaizōi | angwijammai | angwijaimaz | angwijaimaz | angwijaimaz |
| Inst. | angwijanō | angwijaizō | angwijanō | angwijaimiz | angwijaimiz | angwijaimiz |
Weak declension
| Case | Sg. Masc. | Sg. Fem. | Sg. Neut. | Pl. Masc. | Pl. Fem. | Pl. Neut. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nom. | angwijô | angwijǭ | angwijô | angwijaniz | angwijōniz | angwijōnō |
| Acc. | angwijanų | angwijōnų | angwijô | angwijanunz | angwijōnunz | angwijōnō |
| Gen. | angwīniz | angwijōniz | angwīniz | angwijanǫ̂ | angwijōnǫ̂ | angwijanǫ̂ |
| Dat. | angwīni | angwijōni | angwīni | angwijammaz | angwijōmaz | angwijammaz |
| Inst. | angwīnē | angwijōnē | angwīnē | angwijammiz | angwijōmiz | angwijammiz |
Descendants
-
*angī (Proto-West Germanic)
-
*engi (Old Dutch)
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enge (Middle Dutch)
- ing (Limburgish)
-
enge (Middle Dutch)
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*engi (Old Dutch)
-
*angī (Proto-West Germanic)
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*engi (Old Dutch)
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enge (Middle Dutch)
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eng (Dutch)
- eng (Afrikaans)
-
eng (Dutch)
-
enge (Middle Dutch)
-
*engi (Old Dutch)
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*angī (Proto-West Germanic)
-
ange, onge, ænge, enge (Old English)
- ange (Middle English)
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ange, onge, ænge, enge (Old English)
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*angī (Proto-West Germanic)
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ange, onge, ænge, enge (Old English)
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angnæġl (Old English)
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agnail (Middle English)
- angernail, wrangnail, ragnail (Scots)
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agnail (Middle English)
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angnæġl (Old English)
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ange, onge, ænge, enge (Old English)
-
*angī (Proto-West Germanic)
-
ange, onge, ænge, enge (Old English)
-
angnæġl (Old English)
-
agnail (Middle English)
-
agnail (English)
- hangnail (English)
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agnail (English)
-
agnail (Middle English)
-
angnæġl (Old English)
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ange, onge, ænge, enge (Old English)
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*angī (Proto-West Germanic)
-
*enge (Old Frisian)
- angneil, ongneil (Old Frisian)
- ääng (Saterland Frisian)
- ing (West Frisian)
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*enge (Old Frisian)
-
*angī (Proto-West Germanic)
-
engi, enge (Old High German)
-
enge (Middle High German)
- eng (German)
- enk (Luxembourgish)
- eng (Rhine Franconian)
- ענג (eng) (Yiddish)
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enge (Middle High German)
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engi, enge (Old High German)
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*angī (Proto-West Germanic)
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engi (Old Saxon)
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enge (Middle Low German)
- eng (Low German)
-
enge (Middle Low German)
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engi (Old Saxon)
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ǫngr (Old Norse)
- öngur (Icelandic)
- 𐌰𐌲𐌲𐍅𐌿𐍃 (aggwus) (Gothic)