*-hun
Runic: ᚺᚢᚾ Pronunciation: /xun/particle
Function
forms indefinite and negative-polarity pronouns, numerals, and adverbs, with the sense ‘any, anyone, anything, ever, at all’
Etymology
This particle continues Proto-Indo-European *ku-na, from the local/interrogative particle *kú + *-na (Dunkel 2014: 438). It is functionally parallel to Northwest Germanic *-gin, especially in negative expressions such as in its descendant, Gothic -𐌷𐌿𐌽 (-hun). For example: 𐌽𐌹 𐌰𐌹𐌽𐍃𐌷𐌿𐌽 (ni ainshun) (Lehmann 1986a: §5.4). However, it is formally distinct from *-gin, which is derived from PIE *kʷena.
Usage Note
Used especially after interrogative-indefinite bases and numerals; with a preceding negator, forms expressions meaning ‘no one, nothing, none, not any, not at all’.
Descendants
- -𐌷𐌿𐌽 (-hun), 𐌰𐌹𐌽𐍃𐌷𐌿𐌽 (ainshun), 𐌸𐌹𐍃𐌷𐌿𐌽 (þishun) (Gothic)