Talk:しまう

Etym

@Poketalker, while JA sources like the KDJ mention the し (shi) from する (suru) theory, this interpretation of 舞う (mau) is new to me. I can't fathom how the semantics would work in any sensible manner, and I suspect that this is a folk etymology based on phonology and misparsing.

As described here and here (two-parter), among other places, the verb is much more likely しむ (shimu) + repetition / ongoing state auxiliary ふ (fu), where the しむ (shimu) portion is the root form of modern しめる (shimeru) / しまる (shimaru) / しみる (shimiru). All of these verbs include a semantic flavor of "to close / to finish", and arguably may also be related to noun 島 (shima).

Curious as to your thoughts, ‑‑ Eiríkr Útlendi │^{Tala við mig} 15:54, 25 March 2020 (UTC)

@Eirikr: fixed the etymology. My belief is that there is a fusion of the shimo nidan verb with an -a- infix; as in a fusion with aru, the rentaikei form of classical verb ari to make a yodan/godan verb. ～ POKéTalker（═◉═） 20:41, 25 March 2020 (UTC)