reg-

To move in a straight line, with derivatives meaning “to direct in a straight line, lead, rule.” Oldest form *ə₃reg̑-, becoming *ə₃reg- in centum languages.

Derivatives include right, realm, anorexia, rich, rule, interrogate, and reckless.

I. Basic form *reg-.

1. Suffixed form *reg-to-. right, from Old English riht, right, just, correct, straight, from Germanic *rehtaz.

2. realm, rectitude, recto, rector, rectum, rectus, regent, regime, regimen, regiment, region; address, adroit, alert, correct, direct, erect, incorrigible, porrect, rectangle, rectify, rectilinear, resurge, Risorgimento, sord, source, surge, from Latin regere, to lead straight, guide, rule (past participle rēctus, hence adjective rēctus, right, straight).

3. anorectic, anorexia, from Greek oregein, to stretch out, reach out for (with o- from oldest root form *ə₃reg̑-).

II. Lengthened-grade form *rēg-, Indo-European word for a tribal king.

1.

a. bishopric, eldritch, from Old English rīce, realm;

b. Riksmål, from Old Norse rīki, realm;

c. Reich; reichsmark, from Old High German rīchi, realm;

d. rich, from Old English rīce, strong, powerful, and Old French riche, wealthy. a-d all from Germanic *rīkja-, from Celtic suffixed form *rīg-yo-.

2. real², regal, regulus, reign, rial¹, riyal, royal; regicide, regius professor, vicereine, viceroy, from Latin rēx, king (royal and priestly title).

3. Suffixed form *rēg-en-. raj, rajah, rani, rye²; maharajah, maharani, from Sanskrit rājā, rājan-, king, rajah (feminine rājñī, queen, rani), and rājati, he rules.

III. Suffixed lengthened-grade form *rēg-olā-. rail¹, reglet, regular, regulate, rule, from Latin rēgula, straight piece of wood, rod.

IV. O-grade form *rog-.

1. rake¹, from Old English raca, racu, rake (implement with straight pieces of wood), from Germanic *rakō.

2. rack¹, from Middle Dutch rec, framework, from Germanic *rak-.

3. Possibly Germanic *rankaz (with nasal infix). rank², from Old English ranc, straight, strong, hence haughty, overbearing.

4. reckon, from Old English gerecenian, to arrange in order, recount (ge-, collective prefix; see kom), from Germanic *rakinaz, ready, straightforward.

5. Suffixed form *rog-ā-. rogation, rogatory; abrogate, arrogate, corvée, derogate, interrogate, prerogative, prorogue, subrogate, supererogate, from Latin rogāre, to ask (< “stretch out the hand”).

6. Suffixed form *rog-o-. ergo, from Latin ergō, therefore, in consequence of, perhaps contracted from a Latin phrase *ē rogō, “from the direction of” (ē< ex, out of; see eghs), from a possible Latin noun *rogus, “extension, direction.”

V. Lengthened o-grade form *rōg-.

1. reck, from Old English rec(c)an, to pay attention to, take care (formally influenced by Old English reccan, to extend, stretch out, from Germanic *rakjan), from Germanic *rōkjan.

2. reckless, from Old English rēcelēas, careless (-lēas, lacking; see leu-), from Germanic rōkja-.

VI. Suffixed zero-grade form *r̥g-yo-. raita, from Sanskrit ṛjyati, he stretches out.

 

[Pokorny 1. reg̑- 854.]

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