The element GAISO- or GESO- in the old celtic languages
by Philippe POTEL-BELNER , on the 10th of October 2013.
Up to now, philologists used mainly the "neo-celtic" languages in order to explain the old celtic. These "neo celtic" languages are: old irish, old breton, welsh, etc...
In fact, one may notice that this method is not very efficient: the ascertained translations and the etymologies of celtic place-names or personal names are very few. A large part of the celtic vocabulary is remained in obscurity.
Though, another language is probably closer to the old celtic, it is the classic sanskrit and the vedic sanskrit. This last language must be used carefully, because of the Rig Veda 's characteristics: it is very archaic and no correct translation seems to have been produced.
This new trend that tries to compare language as well as religion of both cultures, is on the way to clarify many mysteries.
For me who is working on the subject for a long time, it is so obvious... So, as an umpteenth demonstration, let me explain to you this element GAISO-
As a common transformation, the sanskrit "j" is often transcribed "g" in the celtic languages.
So, the sanskrit root is the verb JI = to surpass, to gain, to vanquish. > example: jeshas = subjonctive person YOU > should you overcome every thing !
In this list, I have pointed out only the names made of the two roots JI = to achieve, and the desiderative flexion –ish > to want to achieve. There is another large paradigm without the element –ish.
latin language
gaesum= javelin borne by the gaulish people of the Alps, and used later by Romans.
The construction of the word is the accusative of a nominal form of a verb *GAES = to win in the future. It is the same form than the latin supin or the sanskrit tumanta. > (a thing) for being victorious.
ethnonyms
The Aggaisoi, people of Apulia. I think that this name might come from a reduplication of GAIS. As in sanskrit, this primary technique of intensification was probably often used.
*gaigais > aggais > the very and always victorious men.
The Gaisatai, in Polybe, was a tribe living in the Rhône's Valley. (in latin: Gaesati)
This form of the root GAIS- is probably issued from a future form in –tâ > *gaisa-tâ = he will win > an auto name of this people > those who will win.
personal names
- Ario-gaisus = ario- (= noble, see ACLD), the suffix –u(s) is agentive > noble winner
- Gaesatus (XD1). See Gesatus
- Gaidzato-diastou (XD2-101) in Galatia. (I don't know in detail this inscription > I will not analyse it)
-Gaisio(n) < GAISIONIS (abl), at Dodewaard (Germania)(CIL-XIII-8806). With a final of present participle > winning > Victorious.
- Gesatia in Lyon (France) (CIL-XIII-2076) = feminine name; GESATIA in Ostia (CIL-XIV-1092)
The suffix –ati commonly means "which comes from" = the descendants > daughter of Victory.
see the gaulish people, the Namnetes = the Namas' children.
- Gesatius? (< abl: Gesati) at Lourmarin (France)(XD2-103); GESATIVS (DIS MANIBVS) in Köln (Germany)(AE-1903-277); GESATIVS in Ostia (Italy)(CIL-XIV-5356); ? GESATIO (dative ?) at Verola (Italy)(XD2-103) > same than previous: son of Victory.
Victory was a divinity in Antiquity.
- Gesato-rix on a Boïan coin (XD2-173) > the suffix –rix in the celtic languages means "plenty of" (skr: -bhrit) > plenty of victories (gesato = gesatas with a phonetic mutation = abl-gen. of gesata = a nominal form of GES with –ta probably equal to skr: -tvâ)
- Gesatus= potter's name (XD2-103); GESATV[s] in Köln (CIL-XIII-8320). The suffix –at is a suffix of future participle (VF-141) > the one who will win.
- Gesorius (XD1). The second element might be the sanskrit suffix –ruc = who is pleased by > ? who is pleased (only) by victory.
- Gêso-ta(r)ou in Galatia (XD2-103). The suffix -tara means "who reaches one' s goal" > who reaches victory.
- Gessius = potter's name at Cannstatt (Germany) (XD2-104).The final in –siu (=-syu) is probably a flexion of "s-future", see SG-932. > who will be victorious.
- Gessus = potter's name at Lezoux (France) (XD2-104). The second element (-sus) is probably the suffix –saha = who is able to > who can win.
- Gesulla (DAG-1277). In my opinion, might be ges-ulla with -ulla like –ola in Ariola = woman of a noble family < skr: kula = family, tribe (see ACLD: Ariola) > woman of the tribe of the victorious men.
- Gisatia= feminine name ? at Gurai (Algeria)(XD2-104) > ? as Gesatia = daughter of Victory.
- Gisondo ? < Gisondoni filius (abl.)at St-Bertrand-de-Comminges (France) (CIL-XIII-278). The suffix –do means: who gives > who gives victory (to his tribe).
- Gissus= potter's name in Britannia (XD2-104). Probably as Gessus.
- Lanio-gaisus (XD1) > ?
- Mero-gaisus (XD1)= the first element is probably equal to maro- = great, plentiful < skr: mahat / mahas > Who has numerous victories.
-Udlu-gesus= potter's name at Westerndorf (XD2-191). At last, a personal name with religious connations ! They are probaly more numerous than what we see. As we hardly find the commoner meanings, but many subtle meanings escape us. In the lead tablet of Larzac, I translated "uidluias uidlu" (1a3) by "in the middle of the womb". Here, I think udlu might be a locative of uidlu or uidlua = the womb, the bowels.
> the one who will be a winner when he will be in the womb of the earth OR the one who will be saved by the womb. My numerous studies have highlighted a chthonian basis of all the ancient religions. This chthonian cults are revealed in detail in the Rig Veda. See my books about religions.
- Uolo-gesus= potter's name at Westerndorf (XD2-204). I think that uolo- means "every thing" > the one who triumphes over every thing.
+ maybe: IASSVS, ISSVS
théonyms
- Gesacus = GESACO AUGUSTO... at Amiens (France) (CIL-XIII-3488)
Obviously, many of the theonyms relating to this root, are close to Mars.
Gesacus > who makes to be victorious.
The suffixe –cus comes from the sanskrit suffix –ka = who makes.
It would be a serious mistake to consider Mars only as a maker of military victories. Mars is above all, the one who gives his sperm in the womb and allow men to be reborn. He is the yuvākavaḥ (young bull) of the Rig Veda (I-3-3) in my translation.
See also my translation of the Gaulish inscription of Alise-Ste-Reine. See also the cult of Mars relating to spring and swallows.
- Gesahenae = MATRONIS ET TRAHENIS ET GESAHENIS at Bettenhofen (Germany)(CIL-XIII-7895); at Köln (CIL-XIII-8496), at Deutz (Germany)(CIL-XIII-8491); twice at Roedingen (Germany)(CIL-XIII-7889/7890). In my former 1st part of my gaulish dictionary, I translated the suffix –hena, very common in the epithets of matrones in the Rhine area, by "who throws a tantrum". At present, I am slightly modifying my thought. I think this suffix might be (also ?) equal to –hita that is to say: "well-disposed to". The mutation of "t" into "n" is common.
> to Matrones, beneficial to the crossing, beneficial to the salvation (to triumph over death is a salvation).
Another valuable hypothesis is –hena as the instrumental flexion –ena > who causes salvation. This suffix –hena needs more researches...
- Gesation (es ) = MATRONIS GESATIONUM... at Iülich (Germany)(AE-1967-344)
gesationum might be a genitive plural of gesation = the action of being triumphant , that is to say in a religious context: salvation > matrones of salvation.
The sense might be "to the ones who make to ripen for being saved". This celtic word gesation (?) is very close to the english word gestation, phonetically and semiologically.
- Gisacus= augusto deo gisaco ...(dative) at Evreux (France) (CIL-XIII-3197). Also GISACO at Augsburg (Germany)(CIL-III-12014). Equal to Gesacus.
place-names
-Geso-cribate (in the Peutinger's table, station around the present-day Brest, in France) > ?
(a possible but not verified possibility might be: skr: kriyate = it makes for us > it makes for us victory. Therefore, the place of a naval victory ? OR > it makes for us to succeed, therefore a safe place, a harbour ? )
- Gêso-dounon (in Ptolemy) > for preserving victory (see ACLD for dunum)
- Gisacum= nowaday Le Vieil-Evreux (France). This important archaeological site is probably a gallo-roman religious center. As my studies have highlighted a using of homophonies and therefore a using of puns in ancient onomastics, this place-name might have several meanings, even in the ancient thought:
- the place of a military victory.
- the place of religious salvations.
- a fort.
- a place relating to Mars Gesacus.
- Octo-gesa (XD1-173). As latin: auctor = creator < sanskrit verb AV. > which makes victory to be real / which makes victory to be good.
In this list, I have pointed out only the names made of the two roots JI = to achieve, and the desiderative flexion –ish > to want to achieve. There is another large paradigm without the flexion –ish.
former discussion, summed up by Xavier DELAMARRE (XD1-173)
The neo-celtic words are made from the root GA (sanskrit root: GAM) which means "to go, to get through, to move" (it is the etymology of "to go").
The germanic and scandinavian examples have probably the same etymology than gaesum.
v.norr: geirr, finnish: keihäs etc...
The greek: khaion has not probably the GAES etymology.
About sanskrit examples: the root he quotes HEsh is rather HIṅs (see WHITNEY), and it is connected with the important root HAN = to strike. I think indeed that these roots might have come from JI-ish = to want to succeed, to want to win, but this origin is very distant and probably within the pre-vedic language. All the way, the sanskrit "h" is very rarely transcribed into a "g" in the celtic languages, and especially not these roots HAN and HIṅs.
later derivations
english language:
- game of chess< game of "gaiso" = game of victory / game for victory.
- to guess< to be a winner.
- probably to win < *gui-na = to become victorious. (see FR: vaincre)
- exegesis < exe-ges-is <
*exe = I want < skr: ISH = to wish, ichchhâ = a desire
*ges = to be victorious
-is = instrumental plural
> the means if I want to be victorious (to analyse and explain the text)
-etc...
french language
à ma guise = as I wish < ma guise = my preeminence, my victory
very late derivations: vaillant (= eng: courageous) < *gua-yant = doing victory
vaincre
As a coincidence, the normal derivation has met up with the old latin derivation: vi-çish / vi-JI > lat: vinco = I win < *vi-gi < skr: vi-JI
Derivation in french: gaulish: gais > ? medieval *gvais (as in welsh language) > vais-kr > vai-kr = to do victory. (see engl: to win)
-exégèse: see engl: exegesis.
-etc...
welsh language
The initial "g" in old celtic has been transcribed with "gw". The close paradigm llwyddo = to succeed , etc... is probably issued from the root LU which is "light, brilliance".
gweithien= a battle
gweithfuddig = victorious
-etc...
french personal names
The legendary king of Franks Mérovée (5th C ?)is probably a transcription of Merogaisus > *merogvaiso.
- Gaissot< the suffix –ot is intensive > the very victorious
- Hugues < *u-gais = very victorious. The phonem “u”= [ wo / wu] , is a prefix coming from either the sanskrit vi- or the sanskrit -ud. Difficult, for the moment, to be more accurate.
- Bertrand Du Guesclin (medieval french warrior) < *u-gais-lin = the suffix –in is a trace of the instrumental in –ena. > who causes many victories.
(for the insertion of a new "d" before an initial vowel, see my study on the british PN Dixon, on Academia)
Geslin = as the previous one > who causes victories
-Gisèle = feminine first name, equal to the old celtic Gesulla.
- Ghislain, Ghislaine = as Geslin.
-etc...
germanic personal names
- Gasmann = *gais-mant = who is visibly endowed with victories
- etc...
place-names
in France :
- Guessling (Moselle, France) < gais-l-in = which causes to be victorious ( a fort)
In France: several place-names: Guise, Guisy, etc...
In Egypt :
This etymology for the site of Gizeh is probable or, at least, a valuable hypothesis. See above, for the religious sense of GAISO-.
-etc...
Feel free to contact me for any question or complement: Philippe POTEL-BELNER, BP 50, Saint-Pair-sur-mer F-50380 (FRANCE)
Bibliography
-AE = journal l' Année épigraphique
-DAG = WHATMOUGH Joshua, the dialects of ancient Gaul, Cambridge (USA), Harvard University Press, 1970
-XD1 = DELAMARRE Xavier, Dictionnaire de la langue gauloise, Paris, ERRANCE, 2003, 2ème édition: 2008
-XD2 = DELAMARRE Xavier, Noms de personnes celtiques dans l’ épigraphie classique, Paris, ERRANCES, 2007
- MMW = Monier MONIER-WILLIAMS, sanskrit-english dictionary, first edition 1872 (reprint Manohar 2006)
-DLCA = POTEL-BELNER Philippe, dictionnaire des langues celtiques antiques, octobre 2013.
-ACLD = POTEL-BELNER Philippe, ancient celtic languages dictionary, october 2013.
- POTEL-BELNER Philippe, correspondances entre les noms de personne gaulois et les noms de famille actuels de France et d' ailleurs ,mai 2013, unpublished, but an extract is published on Academia.edu.
- POTEL-BELNER Philippe, the primary personal name Usizu in the North-Western European derivations: the british family names Dixon, etc..., on Academia.edu, 14th of October 2013.
RDG = répertoire des dieux gaulois, by JUFER Nicole & LUGINBÜHL Thierry, Paris, Errance, 2001
SG = Sanskrit grammar, par William Dwight WHITNEY (1827-1894), originally published in 1896, reprint of Dover Publications (2003, USA)
VF = Vasundhara FILLIOZAT, Eléments de grammaire sanskrite, Paris ?, éd. Agamat, 2007 ?