*awjô
Runic: ᚨᚹᛃᛟ Pronunciation: /ˈɑw.jɔːː/noun · masculine · an-stem
Meanings
a member of the Aviones, a Germanic people mentioned by Tacitus among the tribes that worshipped Nerthus
Etymology
A reconstructed masculine n-stem ethnonym derived from *awjō, hence literally ‘islander, inhabitant of watery land’. The singular *awjô is inferred from the tribal name attested by Tacitus as Latin Aviones and probably also by Old English Eowum (dat. pl.) in Widsith 26a (Bliss 1985: 97–106; Mees 2023b: 8–9). The interpretation of Aviones as ‘islanders’ goes back at least to Grimm and remains widely accepted (Mees 2023b: 8). Compare Old Norse eynir, likewise derived from ey; its direct historical identity with Aviones is uncertain (de Vries 1977: s.v. eynir). See *awjō for the further etymology.
Declension
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nom. | awjô | awjaniz |
| Acc. | awjanų | awjanunz |
| Gen. | awjiniz | awjanǫ̂ |
| Dat. | awjini | awjammaz |
| Inst. | awjinē | awjammiz |
| Voc. | awjô | awjaniz |
Descendants
- *Eowan (‘the Eowan, Aviones’), attested dat. pl. Eowum in Widsith 26a (Old English)