gerə-

I. gerə-¹

To grow old. Oldest form *g̑erə₂-, becoming *gerə₂- in centum languages.

1. Suffixed lengthened-grade form *gērə-s-. ageratum, geriatrics, from Greek gēras, old age.

2. Suffixed form *gerə-ont-. geronto-, from Greek gerōn (stem geront-), old man.

 

[Pokorny g̑er- 390.]

  II. gerə-²

To cry hoarsely; also the name of the crane. Oldest form *gerə₂-.

Derivatives include crack, cranberry, and pedigree.

I. Words meaning “to cry hoarsely” also words denoting the crow.

1.

a. crow¹, from Old English crāwe, a crow;

b. crow², from Old English crāwan, to crow;

c. crack, from Old English cracian, to resound;

d. cracknel, from Middle Dutch krāken, to crack;

e. crake, from Old Norse krāka, a crow;

f. croon, from Middle Dutch krōnen, to groan, lament. a-f all from Germanic *krē-.

2. Possibly from this root (but more likely imitative) is Germanic *kur(r)-. cur, from Middle English curre, cur, akin to Old Norse kurra, to growl.

II. Words denoting a crane.

1.

a. crane, from Old English cran, crane;

b. cranberry, from Middle Low German kran, crane. Both a and b from Germanic *kran-, crane.

2. Extended form *grū-. Grus; pedigree, from Latin grūs, crane.

3. Suffixed variant form *grā-k-. grackle, from Latin grāculus, jackdaw.

4. Suffixed extended form *gerə-no-. geranium, from Greek geranos, crane.

 

[Pokorny 2. ger- 383.]

* * *