Where does “бѣсъ” come from?
бѣсъ (Old Church Slavonic) comes from Proto-Slavic běsъ, from Proto-Balto-Slavic baiˀsás, from Proto-Indo-European bʰoyh₂-dʰh₁-so-s, from Proto-Indo-European bʰeyh₂- — to fear, be afraid; to strike, hit; to hew, cut.
бѣсъ (Old Church Slavonic): demon, evil spirit; pagan god
Definitions
- demon, evil spirit; pagan god
Ancestry of “бѣсъ”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Proto-Slavic | běsъ | rage, amok → rabies; demon, evil spirit |
| 2 | Proto-Balto-Slavic | baiˀsás | demon, evil spirit |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰoyh₂-dʰh₁-so-s | — |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰeyh₂- | to fear, be afraid; to strike, hit; to hew, cut |