*-lif
Runic: ᛚᛁᚠ Pronunciation: /liɸ/suffix · forms numerals
Function
fossilized numeral-forming element found in Proto-Germanic *ainalif (‘eleven’) and *twalif (‘twelve’), originally meaning ‘left over’ after counting ten: literally ‘one left over’ and ‘two left over’
Etymology
A fossilized, non-productive second constituent of numeral compounds. Its ultimate source is disputed. Ringe (2017: 229–30) treats the problem cautiously: the forms can be explained from *-lip-, the zero grade of Proto-Indo-European *leyp-, which would connect the element with Proto-Germanic *lībaną; however, he notes that the Baltic parallels, Lithuanian vienúolikaand dvýlika, point instead to *-likʷ-, from PIE *leykʷ-. Fulk (2018: 227–28) adopts the latter analysis more directly, deriving PGmc *-lif- from *-likʷ-and comparing the Lithuanian numeral type in -lika.