*angô^²

Etymology uncertain. Traditionally compared with Old Armenian անձն (anjn) and derived from an extended form Proto-Indo-European *h₂enh₁-ǵʰ- from root *h₂enh₁-, perhaps through *h₂en(h₁)ǵʰ-ō; the comparison is semantically attractive and has been accepted by several authorities (Martirosyan 2010: 93–94; Meyer 2023: 192; Olsen 1999: 120; Orel 2003: 19). The root *h₂enh₁- itself is securely established (compare Sanskrit अनिति (ániti), Proto-Celtic *anatlā, and Proto-Germanic *ananą), but these forms support only the root, not the proposed *-ǵʰ- extension (Matasović 2009a: 35; Rix et al. 2001: 267). Newer research casts doubt on the Armenian equation: Kölligan (2022: 41–44) instead compares Old Armenian անձն (anjn) to the Germanic n-stem *angan- (= *angô¹ ), deriving that set from PIE *h₂emǵʰ-/*h₂enǵʰ-, while Kim (2024: 71–72, n. 21) notes that the traditional derivation of անձն (anjn) and ON angi from *h₂enh₁- requires an unmotivated -ǵʰ- extension. The Germanic ‘smell’ noun itself is directly represented only by Old Norse angi, so its deeper Indo-European etymology should remain tentative (Orel 2003: 19).