Etymology Explorer › Serbo-Croatian

Where does “бије̑с” come from?

бије̑с (Serbo-Croatian) 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.

Ancestry of “бије̑с”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-Slavicběsъrage, amok → rabies; demon, evil spirit
2Proto-Balto-Slavicbaiˀsásdemon, evil spirit
3Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰoyh₂-dʰh₁-so-s—
4Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰeyh₂-to fear, be afraid; to strike, hit; to hew, cut

Words derived from “бије̑с”

  • бијесан
  • бјесњети
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰeyh₂- →