Reconstruction:Proto-Algonquian/wetempi

This Proto-Algonquian entry contains reconstructed terms and roots. As such, the term(s) in this entry are not directly attested, but are hypothesized to have existed based on comparative evidence.

Proto-Algonquian

Alternative forms

• *-ntep-, *-a·ntep- (medial)

Etymology

From Proto-Algic *wetempe. The term either contains or was re-analysed in some descendant languages as containing the initial possessive prefix *we- (“her, his, its”) (Proto-Algic *weʔ-), which was removed in some descendant languages before other possessive prefixes were added. (In contrast, Wiyot added prefixes onto the full root word: Proto-Algic *wetempe → Wiyot duʔwɨ́tbɨt (“her head”).)

Noun

*wetempi

1. (her, his, its) head, (animal's) brain

Descendants

descendants of this form and the medial *-ntep-:

• Abenaki: wetep, metep (“its head”)
• Cheyenne: hestàhpe, hehtáhpe (“brain”) (from *wetempi with pitch compensating for the lost nasal)
• Cree: wihtihp / ᐃᐧᐦᑎᐦᑊ (iyhtihp, “brain”)
• Atikamekw: wiritip (“brain”)
• Fox: nîn-êtepi (“my brain”)
• Miami: antepi (“his brain”) (from *-ntep-)
• Ojibwe: niin-indib (“my brain”)

References

• Ives Goddard, Pre-Cheyenne *y, in In Honor of Mary Haas: From the Haas Festival Conference, page 352